North American university teams have been hard at work designing and refining advanced propulsion technologies for implementation in a General Motors-donated vehicle. Their challenge is to reduce the environmental impact of a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu by improving its fuel efficiency and reducing its emissions while retaining its performance and consumer appeal. Throughout the ten days, vehicles participate in engineering test similar to those conducted by the automotive industry to determine a prototype’s readiness for production, and ultimately prove the viability of their advanced technology vehicles.

credit: Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions

The government has launched state grants aimed at encouraging motorists to buy environmentally-friendly electric cars. Transport Secretary said nine different electric car models would be eligible for a grant of up to 5,000 pounds ( 7,930 dollars).

Chevrolet Volt

Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid

Opel/Vauxhall Ampera

Nissan Leaf

Smart ForTwo Electric Drive

Mitsubishi i-MiEV

Peugeot iOn

Citroën C-Zero

Tata Vista