FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: Jerry Roane
Company: Roane Inventions
Telephone Number:
512-269-5344
Email Address:
jroane@tritrack.net
Web site address:
www.tritrack.net

 

LOCAL AUSTIN ENTREPRENEUR TO COMPETE FOR THE MULTI MILLION DOLLAR AUTOMOTIVE X PRIZE

Austin, TX, August 1, 2007 – The Automotive X PRIZE challenge, an international competition meant to inspire a new generation of viable, super-efficient vehicles was announced today and Texas has its own contestant to root for. Inventor Jerry Roane is ready. He saw the current global climate crisis coming during the first oil embargo and has been in development ever since on the TriTrack, an electric car and guideway system poised to revolutionize the way we travel.

The TriTrack has already been fully designed with all the X PRIZE goals in mind. The combination that it is designed for high speeds, has an automated crash avoidance system, and 10 to 1 reduction in nitrous oxide emissions set it apart from anything else currently developed. Its patented features will be an advantage in this race, including at-speed battery mule swap, and circular cross-section with resultant drag coefficient of only .14 - less than half that of a standard sedan. As far as being desirable to consumers, the TriTrack succeeds on multiple levels. “First, it appeals to the socially conscious individual”, says Mr. Roane, “because electric power at these small levels can be generated from numerous sources not tied to the world economy. It gives us our freedom. To the consumer whose primary concern is quality of life, time saved traveling unimpeded at 3 miles per minute in town will gain back hours spent sitting in traffic. To me, personally, that is priceless.”

The Automotive X PRIZE is sponsored by the X PRIZE Foundation, the same group that funded the Ansari X PRIZE which led to the production of a private spaceship and launched the space tourism industry. The foundations founder, Peter Diamandis, hopes to capture the same entrepreneurial energy resulting in a new generation of vehicles capable of breaking our addiction to oil and stemming the effects of climate change.

As if these lofty goals weren’t enough motivation, multi-million dollar cash prizes will go to the teams or individual who build practical clean cars that will achieve 100 MPG or its equivalent. However, fuel efficiency isn’t the only requirement. The X PRIZE rules require the winning vehicle to carry four adults using the least amount of gas while negotiating real-world traffic. Additionally, the vehicle must meet federal crash safety and emissions requirements. Finally, the cars must be desirable to the average consumer.

The X PRIZE provides the best arena possible to prove that the TriTrack excels on the ground, but it’s even better when used in conjunction with the TriTrack guideway system.  This inexpensive, elevated track would go above existing streets allowing the individual cars to be computer controlled, rushing across town at speeds of 180 MPH, thus eliminating congestion and collisions.

With this jump-start on the competition and the X PRIZE requirements already addressed, one might imagine the TriTrack is a shoo-in but the list of other competitors is daunting including Tesla Motors and established University teams with manufacturer backing. Is Mr. Roane concerned  “You know the saying abut too many cooks spoiling the soup?”  he asks grinning. “I’m ready for the challenge!”

 

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