Phase 1 of the Challenge - The Ideation.
The Administration launched the Energy Data Initiative in 2012 to liberate data as a fuel for innovation while rigorously protecting privacy. The primary fuel for the Energy Data Initiative is open data. Open data can take many forms but generally includes information that is machine-readable, freely accessible and in an industry-standard format. In particular, open data from the private sector made available to consumers may spur a uniquely scalable degree of innovation. For example, enabling energy customers to securely access their own household or building energy data — via a “Green Button” on their utility website — has fueled the next generation of energy efficiency products and services. Within this context, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is launching the Apps for Vehicles Challenge.
The Challenge seeks to spur and highlight innovations from vehicle-generated open data. The data streams are diverse, but generally include text-based information on things like engine speed, brake position, headlights on/off, and distance covered since restart. This vehicle data has long been available to mechanics and technicians using specialized equipment. But by applying open data principles, individuals will be able to readily access this on-board data directly through Bluetooth, USB and other standard hardware. Associated platforms will enable vehicle owners to provide this data to authorized third-party developers to create and then deliver new apps, products, and services. As a result, these third-party developers will help Americans while also creating jobs.
Phase I of the Challenge will cast a wide net to gather compelling ideas, business plans, product development plans, and very-early-stage products. These different options for Submissions shall be referred to as “Ideations”.
Prizes
$16,000 in prizes
Phase 1 Finalists: Cash, Access & Publicity
(8)
Phase I of the Challenge will cast a wide net to gather compelling ideas, business plans, product development plans, and very-early-stage products (“Ideations”) that address the Challenge’s goals.
Phase I concludes with a selection of Finalists that will be permitted to continue into Phase II and each Finalist will be awarded a small portion of the total cash pool, ranging from $1000 to $5000. The total cash prize pool, inclusive of all cash awards available to be made in Phases I and II, is $50,000.
During Phase II, Finalists from Phase I will have an opportunity to refine their Ideations with industry leaders supporting the Challenge. These industry leaders will provide some combination of: technical guidance, customer analysis, market assessments, IT roadmap recommendations, and general consulting. Additionally, winners will have an opportunity to be recognized at a public announcement of the final winners.
Devpost Achievements
Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:
How to enter
To enter, Contestants and Teams must follow all of the instructions in the Rules of the Challenge (link above).
Judges

Pat Davis
Director, Vehicle Technologies Office, Department of Energy

Venkatesh Prasad
Senior Technical Leader, Open Innovation | Member, Ford Technology Advisory Board

Rachel Barge
Partner and Head of Communications, Greenstart

Peggy Smedley
President & Editorial Director, Connected World Magazine. The Peggy Smedley Show.

Tim Mellon
Director, Government Affairs, SAE International

Christopher Monk
Chief, Human Factors/Engineering Integration Division, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Pat Kennedy
CEO, OSISoft

David Green
Center for Transportation Analysis, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Blake Burris
Chief Hacktivist, CleanWeb

Jo Strang
Associate Administrator, Safety Data Initiative, Department of Transportation

Charlie Hale
Google Maps & Google X
Judging Criteria
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Potential Impact
Each Submission will be rated on the strength of its potential to help individuals, organizations, and communities make informed decisions to improve their fuel efficiency. -
Creativity and Innovation
Each Submission will be rated for the degree of new thinking it brings to applications for the transportation sector, and the creativity shown in designing for impact. -
Use of Open Vehicle Data
Each Submission must make use of open vehicle data. Judges will be looking at both the depth of usage for each data stream and the breadth of different data streams that are integrated. (More criteria in Rules document.) -
Plan Viability
Each Submission will be rated on the completeness of the Ideation and the evidence – such as can be demonstrated by documented/demonstrated experience – that the Team’s proposal can actually be created in the remaining time period of the Challenge.
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