Historical AVTC Sponsors
Since 1988, key industry, government, and academic sponsors have provided the hardware, software, training, and support AVTC students need to integrate technologies into competition vehicles. AVTCs harness the knowledge and resources of government and industry with the brightest minds in academia to empower the next generation of engineers and business leaders to develop solutions to our nation’s toughest transportation challenge. This arrangement has given students access to components and systems that might otherwise be unavailable or too expensive for them to use.
The following influential sponsors have made AVTCs possible over the past 30 years:
U.S. Department of Energy
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), through Argonne National Laboratory, provides overall competition management, team evaluation, and technical and logistical support for EcoCAR, the premier DOE-sponsored student vehicle competition. DOE launched its student vehicle competition program in 1988 to demonstrate and test technologies developed in laboratories. By combining the next generation of technical innovators with emerging advanced transportation technologies, AVTCs helps ensure a sustainable, environmentally responsible transportation future. Through the student vehicle competition program, 30,000+ students have received hands-on engineering experience and many of them have moved on to take jobs in the automotive industry, bringing with them an understanding of and enthusiasm for advanced vehicle technologies.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in partnership with Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), provide program management, team evaluation, logistical support, in order to educate the next generation of automotive engineers and accelerate the development of technologies of interest to the DOE and the automotive industry.
https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/vehicle-technologies-office
The U.S. Department of Energy, through Argonne National Laboratory, provides overall competition management, team evaluation, and technical and logistical support for EcoCAR, the premier DOE-sponsored student vehicle competition.
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) launched its student vehicle competition program in 1988 to demonstrate and test technologies developed in laboratories. By combining the next generation of technical innovators with emerging advanced transportation technologies, the EcoCAR competition helps ensure a sustainable, environmentally responsible transportation future. DOE and its network of national laboratories maintain an aggressive research and development program in advanced vehicle technologies, including fuel cells, energy storage, hybrid systems, advanced materials, alternative fuels, and heat engines.
DOE continues to develop new technology to improve vehicle efficiency and lessen our dependence on foreign oil. Through the student vehicle competition program, close to 16,500 students have received hands-on engineering experience and many of them have moved on to take jobs in the automotive industry, bringing with them an enthusiasm for advanced vehicle technologies. For more information, visit www.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels.
Argonne National Laboratory
Argonne is a multidisciplinary science and engineering research center, where world-class researchers work alongside experts from industry, academia and other government laboratories to address vital national challenges in clean energy, environment, technology and national security. Argonne has managed the Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions program, on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy, since 1988.
General Motors
General Motors (GM) has joined the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to sponsor several successful student engineering competition programs. These have included: Methanol Marathon (1988-1990), Natural Gas Vehicle Challenge (1990-1993), HEV Challenge (1993-1995), FutureCar (1995-1999), Ethanol Vehicle Challenge (1997-1999), FutureTruck (1999-2001), Challenge X (2004-2008), EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge (2008-2011), EcoCAR 2 (2011-2014), EcoCAR 3 (2014-2018), EcoCAR Mobility Challenge (2018-2022) and EcoCAR EV Challenge (2022-2026). Throughout the years, GM has provided stock vehicles, engineering support and testing facilities, seed money, mentorship, and much more to all of the AVTC universities involved.
MathWorks
The MATLAB and Simulink product families are fundamental computational tools at the world’s educational institutions. Adopted by more than 5,000 universities and colleges, MathWorks products accelerate the pace of learning, teaching, and research in engineering and science. MathWorks products also help prepare students for careers in industry, where the tools are widely used for research and development. MathWorks has been a longtime supporter of AVTCs and has provided software and technical support to students since 2001. MathWorks is a proud headline sponsor for the EcoCAR Mobility Challenge (2018-2022) and EcoCAR EV Challenge (2022-2026).
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company constantly develops and refines new technologies that enhance the efficiency of the company’s wide variety of automotive products across all of its global brands. Ford understands the need to continually reduce its impact on the environment and strives to meets this goal while still satisfying the marketplace’s ever-more-challenging safety, comfort, and performance demands. Over the years, Ford sponsored HEV Challenge (1992-1995), FutureCar (1995-1999), and FutureTruck (2002-2005). By providing vehicles as well as facilities, financial assistance, technical assistance, and staffing during the competitions, Ford was committed to helping ensure the success of AVTCs.
Chrysler
As a strong proponent of alternative fuels, Chrysler was proud to sponsor AVTCs, including HEV Challenge (1994-1995), Propane Vehicle Challenge (1995-1997), and FutureCar Challenge (1995-1999). Chrysler provided donated vehicles and hosted competitions at their elite facilities, and gained the opportunity to interface with North America’s top students.
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada has been a longtime supporter of the Advanced Vehicle Technology Competition program, providing technical and program support for more than 25 years. The AVTC program underscores the Government of Canada’s commitment to addressing greenhouse gas reductions and supporting sustainable energy policies and advanced automotive technologies. Support to the AVTC program is provided by Natural Resources Canada and Transport Canada, as well as Energy, Mines, and Resources Canada during the early years of the program. Natural Resources Canada provides knowledge, expertise, and program activities for the sustainable development and use of Canada’s natural resources and to support the global competitiveness of its resource and related sectors. This includes energy activities that encompass policy development, market development programs, and international activities in energy efficiency, renewables, transportation technologies, alternative fuels, and conventional fuels. Transport Canada is responsible for transportation policies and programs. It ensures that air, marine, road, and rail transportation are safe, secure, efficient, and environmentally responsible.
National Science Foundation
Since 1997, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has supported AVTCs. In addition to providing financial support to the program, each year the NSF provides awards to faculty members who have made significant contributions to the goals of the AVTC program and to engineering education. NSF is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants and cooperative agreements to nearly 2,000 universities and institutions.
California Air Resources Board
California’s state legislature established the Air Resources Board (ARB) in 1967 to protect public health, the economy, and the state’s ecological resources through the reduction of air pollution. Since its formation, the ARB has successfully worked with the public, environmental groups, businesses, and local and federal agencies to cooperatively reach our clean air goals. Throughout the years, the ARB has worked with AVTC programs to provide dynamometer and emissions testing facilities and procedures, including FutureTruck, EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge, EcoCAR 2: Plugging In to the Future, and EcoCAR 3.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Transportation and Air Quality’s (OTAQ) mission is to reconcile the transportation sector with the environment by advancing clean fuels and technology, and working to promote more livable communities. OTAQ is responsible for carrying out laws to control air pollution from motor vehicles, engines, and their fuels. The EPA’s National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory (NVFEL) is part of OTAQ. Established in 1971 shortly after the creation of EPA, NVFEL is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Testing activities include certifying that vehicle and engines meet federal emissions and fuel economy standards, testing vehicles and engines for in-use compliance, and analyzing fuels, fuel additives, and exhaust compounds. Since 1988, the U.S. EPA has provided emissions testing and support for AVTC programs, including Methanol Marathon, Natural Gas Vehicle Challenge, FutureCar, EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge, and EcoCAR 2.
Clean Cities
Clean Cities is part of the Vehicle Technologies Program in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Clean Cities strives to advance the nation’s energy, environmental, and economic security by supporting local decisions to reduce our dependence on imported petroleum. Since 2010, the Clean Cities program has funded AVTC communication managers through a fellowship. This fellowship presents a great opportunity for students to participate in the AVTC marketing efforts and support their local Clean Cities coalitions.
AVL Powertrain Engineering
AVL Powertrain Engineering is the world’s largest privately owned and independent company for the development of gasoline, diesel, and alternative fuel powertrain systems, as well as fuel cell and hybrid technologies. For more than 60 years, AVL has been active in the development of engines and powertrains providing low fuel consumption. Over the years, AVL has provided AVL DRIVE software and testing capabilities during the competition. By supporting AVTC programs, AVL is proving its commitment to the future of our industry with the ongoing, hands-on education of tomorrow’s engineers and leaders.
NXP
NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NASDAQ: NXPI) enables secure connections and infrastructure for a smarter world, advancing solutions that make lives easier, better and safer. As the world leader in secure connectivity solutions for embedded applications, NXP is driving innovation in the secure connected vehicle, end-to-end security & privacy and smart connected solutions markets. Built on more than 60 years of combined experience and expertise, the company has 45,000 employees in more than 35 countries.
dSPACE
dSPACE, Inc. is a market innovator and leading producer of engineering tools for embedded controller development. dSPACE provides integrated systems for prototyping control algorithms, automatic production code generation, controller testing, controller calibration, and engineering support services.. dSPACE’s robust and comprehensive ECU development environment can dramatically reduce development time and costs, while providing increased flexibility for continuous process modifications. Today, more than 20,000 dSPACE systems are in use worldwide, serving customers in the automotive, aerospace, commercial/off-highway, agricultural, educational, engineering, robotics, and noise and vibration industries. dSPACE has sponsored AVTCs since the mid 2000’s as an opportunity to empower student engineers to quickly develop innovative solutions to the challenges of reduced emissions, increased performance, and driver satisfaction.
SAE International
SAE International is a global association committed to being the ultimate knowledge source for the engineering profession. SAE acts on two priorities: encouraging a lifetime of learning for mobility engineering professionals and setting the standards for industry engineering. SAE was a key sponsor in the early years of AVTCs, including Methanol Marathon (1988-1990), Natural Gas Vehicle Challenge (1990-1993), HEV Challenge (1993-1995), and Propane Vehicle Challenge (1995-1997).
Other Notable Sponsors and Organizations
- A123 Systems
- AAM
- American Society for Engineering Education
- BOSCH
- BP Oil
- CrossChasm
- Delphi Technologies
- Detroit Edison
- EPRI
- General Electric
- Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
- Horiba
- Intel
- Magna International
- National Instruments
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory
- PACCAR
- Proterra
- Ricardo, Inc.
- Siemens
- tesa Tape
- Vector
Interested in the
Next AVTC Series?
Argonne National Laboratory is excited to announce a Notice of Program Interest (NOPI), on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy and co-headline sponsors, for an upcoming Request for Proposals (RFP) to be released in fall 2025