For those of you who don't know, I'm an team member on the West Philly Hybrid X Team, which is competiting in for the $10M Progressive Automotive X-Prize.

Last week, a delegation of 6 adults and 5 kids went on a trip to Detroit, Michigan at the invitation of the president of Ford Global Technologies. For most of the kids, this was their first trip on an airplane and the farthest away from home they've been. While in the area we visited the University of Michigan and tried a number of different cuisines.

The main focus of the trip was to visit the EPA National Vehicle Fuel Emissions Lab and the Ford Research and Innovation Center. The folks at the EPA were happy to show us how cars are tested to receive approval for sale in the US, along with explaining their work on hydraulic hybrid vehicles.

The president and a chief analyst at Ford's Research and Innovation Center spend the morning with us, showing us key research tools and facilities in addition to sharing their process in developing new vehicles. The kids got a chance to present our business plan and requests for Ford's continuing involvement with the team. In addition to being a great opportunity for the kids to practice public speaking and being representatives for the team, the groundwork for a valuable partnership was laid.

Work is progressing on our two entries for the competition, and I hope you'll find out more about what we're doing and the competition *shameless plug*

West Philly Hybrid X Team - http://www.evxteam.org 

Progressive Automotive X-Prize - http://auto.x-prize.org 

10 hours and 45 minutes from now I will be starting a completely new life. No other waypoint has been marked with as much planning, music, food, or fanfare, though I doubt I will truly absorb much of it at all. 

Instead, I have the feeling that I will be as singularly minded as I have ever been -- trying to remember to breathe, repeat the words at appropriate times, and remember which hand is my left hand (Something which on any other day generally doesn't seem to be as difficult.) For nearly an hour I'll get to chant excitedly in my head, "I'm getting married." Then I'll be tossed about by the reception maelstrom, which I'm sure will be fun, though tiring -- and then it will start. Life together.