Arnold Schwarzenegger - GERMAN WORLD MAGAZINE

H
ow will cars look like in 20 years? How can future drivers interact
with their cars? Students of German International School of Silicon
Valley were invited to present their designs and ideas with answers to
those questions. The best presentation was awarded with the
Volkswagen Group of America Student Innovation Prize 2010.
The Electronics Research Laboratory (ERL) hosted its first annual
Innovation Prize event at the German International School of Silicon
Valley (GISSV). The prize aims to encourage students to contribute to the
development and practical realization of innovative concepts in the field
of automotive research and development. In return, the students are
introduced in a career opportunity and gain valuable, practical
Innovative vehicles on the rise
The X-Tracer (1), the Swiss ultimate low-drag high-performance vehicle
which won the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE, is a smart
innovation. The X-Tracer built by the Tracer Team Switzerland, is a highperformance
pure battery-electrically driven low drag vehicle for the
comfortable transportation of up to two persons with weekend baggage in
a fully enclosed cabin. The vehicle concept allows it to be driven purely on
batteries even on highway speed journeys over 150 miles. It has been
demonstrated that to cruise at highway speed, less than 10 kW are
required. For a range in excess of 150 miles no more than 200 lbs of
batteries are required.
Another innovation is the the AIRpod (2), a small three-wheel vehicle
that is driven by compressed air. The car, which is produced by the
French company MDI will hit the road next March, will be seen mainly at
industrial sites and airports. But the investors are certain that they will also
convince private buyers since the car can be driven for 200 km before it
needs to be refilled. The compressed air is filled into a carbon tank while
attached to the electrical power grid. – gw/ah
1 2
AUTOMOBILE NEWS
GISSV students
improve cars
of the future
First annual Innovation Prize
event at the German International
School of Silicon Valley
experience working in a research team. Members of the ERL visit the
student teams and hold interactive lectures to guide the innovation
process.
The German International School of Silicon Valley is the first school to
participate in this project. As of next year the Innovation Prize will further
expand to become a competition between various Silicon Valley schools.
Student's innovation will be judged by a panel of judges representing
various Silicon Valley entities, ERL, Stanford University, and the Volkswagen
Group. Criteria taken into consideration are idea, presentation
and creativity. The winning team will be given the opportunity to work
with the ERL to turn this innovation or variation into reality. – gw/ah
Winter 2010/11 www.german-world.com 23