About AVTC
North America’s premier collegiate automotive engineering competitions.
Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions
Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions (AVTCs) are a series of multi-year automotive engineering competitions and DOE’s flagship workforce development program for future automotive engineers and industry leaders.
The AVTC program is North America’s premier collegiate automotive engineering competition, providing an unparalleled, hands-on educational experience that has transformed the traditional classroom environment into a hub for automotive innovation.
Mission & Vision
AVTC’s Vision
To empower the next generation of engineers and business leaders to develop solutions to address our nation’s toughest transportation challenges.
AVTC’s Mission
To engage university students in advanced technology research and support national efforts to encourage students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and enable the U.S. to develop the skilled workforce needed to be competitive in the global marketplace.
Goals
Build a skilled workforce that maintains the competitiveness of the North America auto industry in an increasingly competitive global automotive market.
Provide students with an unparalleled and immersive educational experience that transforms the traditional classroom into a hub of automotive innovation.
Create multidisciplinary teams that reflect real-world industry collaboration across engineering, business, and communications.
Prepare students for careers through real-world training using industry tools, standards, and processes, while challenging them to meet technical milestones and solve complex problems.
Inspire future STEM talent through national K–12 outreach and education programs.
AVTC Evolution
- Methanol Marathon (1988-1990)
- Natural Gas Vehicle Challenge (1990-1993)
- HEV Challenge (1992-1995)
- Propane Vehicle Challenge (1995-1997)
- FutureCar Challenge (1995-1999)
- Ethanol Vehicle Challenge (1997-2000)
- FutureTruck (1999-2004)
- Challenge X: Crossover to Sustainable Mobility (2004-2008)
- EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge (2008-2011)
- EcoCAR 2: Plugging In to the Future (2011-2014)
- EcoCAR 3 (2014-2018)
- EcoCAR Mobility Challenge (2018-2022)
- EcoCAR EV Challenge (2022-2026)
- Battery Workforce Challenge (2023-2026)
- EcoCAR Innovation Challenge (2026-2030)
Quick Facts
34,000+
AVTC Graduates
122
North American Universities
38
Year History
Learn More About AVTCs
AVTC's Impact
AVTC's History
Key Sponsors
Past Competitions
