March 25, 2008 UPDATE BY IAN!

[Derwin]

IanBruce (http://www.flytheroad.com/)
Administrator (http://flytheroad.com/blog/forums/profile.php?id=128)

Hi guys,
I've just returned from participating in the launch of the Automotive X PRIZE at the New York International Auto Show. If you've been living under a rock for the past week, the goal of the prize is to "inspire a new generation of viable, super-efficient vehicles that will help break our addiction to oil, and stem the devastating effects of climate change."

Of course, we didn't need any inspiration -- our own project was already well underway when I first heard about the Automotive X PRIZE -- but I’d followed the previous challenge, the X PRIZE for Space, with a great deal of enthusiasm. I vividly recall the events of October 4, 2004, when Mojave Aerospace Ventures, led by legendary aircraft designer Burt Rutan and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, built and flew the world’s first private vehicle to space twice in two weeks -- winning the $10 million Ansari X PRIZE. An astonishing accomplishment by aerospace genius Burt Rutan, a man who's been a personal hero of mine for many years.

The subsequent announcement of the Automotive X PRIZE seemed obvious -- but only after the fact. We have nearly 750 million vehicles on the roads worldwide, and expect to add another 1.2 billion to that number over the next 40 years. Clearly, we need to start changing the way we think about personal transportation. We’re at a critical juncture, and I applauded the X PRIZE Foundation for recognizing, as we did, the importance of addressing this issue head on, as well as fostering leadership in domestic development of green vehicle solutions. We're honored to a be a part of this competition, and the launch in New York.

Getting there was another matter entirely -- we had the 2 full-scale models, but less than a week to get it to New York. By now -- based in large part on your survey responses -- we'd settled on the "D" design. The more discriminating among you may also have noticed that we pulled a number of design cues from "C" into "D", but more on that later.

We shipped the model to Hollywood automotive designer and guru, Eddie Paul, who (among other things) built the vehicles for the movies The Fast and the Furious, 2 Fast 2 Furious, XXX, Gone in 60 Seconds, Taxi, and many more. Eddie's been a friend for years, and if anyone could meet this deadline, it was him.

After sealing and painting the Styrofoam, we begin applying the window film:

http://www.flytheroad.com/NYIAS_08/IMG_5295.jpg

http://www.flytheroad.com/NYIAS_08/IMG_5299.jpg

http://www.flytheroad.com/NYIAS_08/IMG_5300.jpg


Windows finished. It's amazing what a little film can do!:

http://www.flytheroad.com/NYIAS_08/IMG_5303.jpg

Next comes the trim paint, wheel hubs, mirrors, and panel lines:

http://www.flytheroad.com/NYIAS_08/IMG_5320.jpg


It's looking like a real vehicle. The pickup is tomorrow at noon:

http://www.flytheroad.com/NYIAS_08/IMG_5323.jpg

Final prep before a truck ride to the airport, and an overnight flight to New York:

http://www.flytheroad.com/NYIAS_08/IMG_5330.jpg

The VentureOne safe and sound on the set of the TODAY Show in Rockefeller Center:

http://www.flytheroad.com/NYIAS_08/IMG_5333.jpg

Go Speed Racer! Hey, for a shot at a chunk of a $10 million purse, I'll happily wear anything for a few hours:

http://www.flytheroad.com/NYIAS_08/IMG_5340.jpg

Dr. Peter Diamandis and the rest of the X Prize committee:

http://www.flytheroad.com/NYIAS_08/IMG_5348.jpg

She looks great, and the crowd went nuts over her. It was worth the trouble:

http://www.flytheroad.com/NYIAS_08/IMG_5350.jpg

Progressive Insurance CEO Glenn Renwick, and my friend and partner, Howard Levine:

http://www.flytheroad.com/NYIAS_08/IMG_5358.jpg

Arriving under cover at the Javits Center. I had the license plate made especially for this event:

http://www.flytheroad.com/NYIAS_08/IMG_5359.jpg

http://www.flytheroad.com/NYIAS_08/IMG_5360.jpg

Final preparations for the X Prize press launch at 1:00PM Thursday:

http://www.flytheroad.com/NYIAS_08/IMG_5361.jpg

http://www.flytheroad.com/NYIAS_08/IMG_5362.jpg

http://www.flytheroad.com/NYIAS_08/IMG_5364.jpg

http://www.flytheroad.com/NYIAS_08/IMG_5366.jpg

http://www.flytheroad.com/NYIAS_08/IMG_5368.jpg

http://www.flytheroad.com/NYIAS_08/IMG_5369.jpg

http://www.flytheroad.com/NYIAS_08/IMG_5370.jpg

Progressive's Glenn Renwick and inventor-extraordinaire Dean Kamen:

http://www.flytheroad.com/NYIAS_08/IMG_5374.jpg

http://www.flytheroad.com/NYIAS_08/IMG_5376.jpg

http://www.flytheroad.com/NYIAS_08/IMG_5377.jpg

The VentureOne at the X Prize exhibit. Where it will remain on display at the NY International Auto show until March 30th:

http://www.flytheroad.com/NYIAS_08/IMG_5393.jpg

http://www.flytheroad.com/NYIAS_08/IMG_5402.jpg

http://www.flytheroad.com/NYIAS_08/IMG_5403.jpg

http://www.flytheroad.com/NYIAS_08/IMG_5409.jpg

Incredible location. They don't call it the "Crystal Palace" for nothing:

http://www.flytheroad.com/NYIAS_08/IMG_5413.jpg

Have a great show, baby! See you back in California:

http://www.flytheroad.com/NYIAS_08/IMG_5416.jpg

There's also been quite a lot of coverage of the X PRIZE over the past few days. If you missed any of it, here's a few choice examples:

TODAY Show [video]:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/23723053#23723053 (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/23723053#23723053)

MSNBC:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23715179/ (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23715179/)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23700176?pg=2#X_Prize_Cars (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23700176?pg=2#X_Prize_Cars)

The X PRIZE Vision [video]:

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X PRIZE Press conference [video]:

Part 1
qCeQPykPaLU
Part 2
dcyBCCKs0DQ
Part 3
AdVwGidibNE

http://www.progressiveautoxprize.org/auto/news-events/events (http://www.progressiveautoxprize.org/auto/news-events/events)

"Do you think you'll win", is the question I keep hearing. $10 million is obviously a lot of money -- even the roughly $3 million purse suggested for the "alternative" vehicle category. But we didn't start Venture Vehicles to win prizes -- we just want to build great vehicles. The money and recognition would be great, but speaking for myself, I'm simply trying to do my part to create a brighter, greener future for all of us. In short: May the best vehicle win.

Late Breaking: Mayor Bloomberg has announced that New York City will host the first of the ten stage races, kicking off the competition in September 2009. I can wait.

Cheers,
-- Ian

[Derwin]

WHAT AN UPDATE...HUH?!! I, for one, am incredibly excited about what is happening at Venture Vehicles. Wether they win the X prize or not, it's still a GREAT thing that they are in it. The publicity alone is worth it. But I think we all know which is the "best" vehicle! Did you see Ian in his "Speed Racer" costume? I thought he looked fantastic! I can't even imagine the excitement that is in the hearts of Ian, Howard and the rest of the VV team. I would bet it's off the charts.

THREE CHEERS TO IAN AND THE TEAM! =y:

Derwin

[PHEVadvocate]

Go IAN go!

[MarkH]

What an update! All I can say is WOW!

[CelticFlyer]

I'm stoked just seeing the pix and getting a peek behind-the-scenes! =y:

I imagine I'll be like a kid in a candy store when I take delivery of my own VentureOne, or whatever it ends up being called.

Thanks big time, Ian. Your report really energizes us (pun intended). ;)

[Bulldog]

Incredible, ex potential, wow! What words can describe the excitement in the air? Absolutely fantastic update!

[RAN]

Yeah, what they said! Thanks Derwin~! ;)

[Satt]

I think I feel something funny in my pants. AWESOME!!!:Beer:

[MVRacing]

Well, I hate to be a wet blanket, but I'm dissapointed with the update.

Yes, it great that we are down to one design, and that we are getting a ton of advertisement from the X Prize competition (even if it's not needed).

So Venture Vehicles has completed another model and made some more speaches. I want to know why the EV range has dropped to 10 miles? How firm is our design? Are we wasting our breath in continuing to make suggestions? The status of the "Alpha" prototype? Is Rouch the build location for the first years production? When will that start? What is the progress of establishing dealerships (other than drawings) in CA, or across the country? Are in-wheel motors in or out? How is A123's progress on our battery? Status of assembly suppliers?

Main thing is a time line, release/sale date ... in other words ... when can I get mine =D

[RAN]

MVR I feel your pain, believe me. In the almost 6 months I've been involved with the FTR forum, the price has gone up @$2000, the curb weight went from 1200 to 1400 and now to 1500 lbs, the EV only range as you say has been cut in half from 20 to 10, the 0-60 times for the Q100 have gone from @5 secs up to @7 and it has been inferred the 100+mpg may drop to 75-85mpg. As if this isn't enough, remember, the design direction was supposed to be decided by the end of 2007, but many of us received surveys on this very subject well into January of this year, and the final direction wasn't "leaked" until this month.

In the mp3 with Howard, he said they were looking for the Alpha prototype to be completed in 45-60 days, and they were looking to have several Beta prototypes built by the end of 2008. It's been my experience that you can pretty much double any estimates that we receive from Ian and crew. Thus, realistically, you can expect the Alpha to be finished in June-July, and the Betas to take until Q1-2 2009. You can also expect the 1st release of the V-1 around Q2 2010 for CA, and about 1 year later for the rest of the country.

Frustrating? Sure. But it's more frustrating to accept their estimates at face value, and then feel burned when they never meet them. We still have really no idea what the final numbers will be. I think most of us can agree that the numbers aren't going in the direction we'd like, but there's nothing to do but wait and see.

[MVRacing]

Hi RAN,
Ya, I'm with you. I was a lurker for months before I signed up and started posting ... took me that long to read thru every thread and link on both sights :) Signed into the 4000 back last June, so am hopeful I can get one of the first production run. Nothing out there excites me as much as this ... not even my race car anymore. =n:

I was hoping the X Prize would help push the schedule! Then the X Prize foundation slipped their schedule by almost a year ...darn!! :mad:

Like all of us ... hoping Ian gets a web admin soon, and want it now =y::rolleyes::rolleyes:=y:

[Miracleman89]

Well, I have been following this company since Nov. of 2006! I too have felt many of your same frustrations! The one I thought was big was going from in-wheel electric motors to a more standard hybrid system! This I believe was the kicker in the weight class and the price tag! The lithium Ion Battery situation was also disappointing! Through all of this though one thing still remains a constant, I want one! I can still say that the main things that attracted me to the V1 are still there and I am still here! The time lines may have slipped over this long period of time But to me that just says that Ian and crew are making sure that all the I's are dotted and all of the T's are crossed. I would hate to see the vehicle fall under immediate attack for lack of scrutiny over any one issue! I would much rather see this vehicle come out and become a main staple in the US automotive market rather then a flash in the pan! Call me an optimist but I am very excited about this update and I look forward to continuing to watch VV's Progress!

[Derwin]

Here is a new post that Ian made today. It contains a photo of the Alpha Chassis. Very exciting stuff!


IanBruce
Administrator


I'm just disappointed that Vv took so long to enter, and AMAZED that they were able to get 'highlighted' in the TV coverage and the NY Auto Show (being such a recent entry and only having a 'foam mockup'). I'll bet there is some resentment among the other 60+ entrants that signed up earlier and have actual operational vehicles. Quite a 'coup' for Vv! --Rogwild

In fact, we've been communicating with the X PRIZE's Senior Director for nearly a year. You may recall that you and I were both posting to the XPRIZE forums last April - May:
http://auto.xprize.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=94

We ultimately decided to enter the fray 5 months ago when it became clearer that there was a good chance the rules would be refined to allow us to qualify in the alternative class. That was by no means certain until then.

We're also a bit beyond the foam mock-up stage -- These are just a couple of images, but they represents hundreds (if not thousands) of man hours of meetings planning, negotiations, CAD, engineering, analysis, revisions, hair-tearing, and fabrication:

http://www.flytheroad.com/images/VV_Alpha_Chassis_3.jpg

http://www.flytheroad.com/images/VV_Hybrid_testing_12.jpg

As for the show itself, the X PRIZE committee is very familiar with our development status, and was looking for vehicle concepts to showcase at the launch. I think we'd both agree that the technology and engineering pictured above is much more relevant to the goals of the prize, but that's not what most people want to see right now. They need to be sold on the style before they'll consider the substance.

In any case, the first qualifying race isn't until September of next year, and we expect to have the first set of roadable Beta's out by the end on this year. If the other 60+ entrants already have operational vehicles, they'd better get cracking on their business and marketing cases -- because we're already 10 laps ahead of them there.

That's no cause for complacency, however. You keep cracking that whip, RogWild. ;^)


-- Ian

Posted: 2008-03-27 09:45:31 #

[Derwin]

Another Ian post:

IanBruce
Administrator


The alpha chassis photo speaks a lot on progress, on safety, and a glimpse at the tlit-o-matic center. Are the metal panels permanent? I assume those will eventually go away for something equally strong and much lighter...--VV forum member post

Don't read too much into it -- we're "only" using it to test propulsion, suspension, strength, driving dynamics, and handling. The Beta spaceframe will be much closer to the final production chassis.

Posted: 2008-03-27 10:14:55 #

[rogwild]

I was hoping the X Prize would help push the schedule! Then the X Prize foundation slipped their schedule by almost a year ...darn!! :mad:



Yes, BUT the slip make it a realistic target that Vv might be able to meet. And if the PRODUCTION SCHEDULE is not 'slipped', we might be able to drive to see the RACES in our own V~1's!:rolleyes:=y: