WASHINGTON – Rep. Dan Lungren thinks the X PRIZE Foundation's offer of a multimillion-dollar prize to the developer of the first production-model 100 mpg car is such a good idea that he wants the federal government to kick in a $1 billion purse for bringing such a vehicle to market.
The House late Wednesday approved legislation Lungren sponsored that praises the Pasadena-based foundation for its leadership in offering the competition.
The prize will be at least $10 million – the amount the foundation awarded in 2004 for the first human-piloted spacecraft to leave the Earth's atmosphere and return twice within two weeks. The car must also be a low polluter and be ready for production.
Lungren wants taxpayers to up the ante. Last year the Gold River Republican introduced legislation to authorize a $1 billion check to the first U.S. manufacturer to sell 60,000 midsized cars that can go 100 miles on a gallon of gasoline.
The legislation so far hasn't gained a lot of traction. To date, its only co-sponsor is Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno.
– David Whitney, McClatchy Washington Bureau
