About the EcoCAR EV Challenge

ABOUT:

The EcoCAR EV Challenge is a four-year collegiate automotive engineering competition, providing an unparalleled, hands-on educational experience that transforms the traditional classroom environment into a hub of automotive innovation

EcoCAR EV CHALLENGE:

The EcoCAR EV Challenge builds upon a proud 35+ year history of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions (AVTCs). The EV Challenge charges 15 North American universities to engineer a next generation battery electric vehicle (BEV) that utilizes automation and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) connectivity to implement energy efficient and customer-pleasing features, while meeting the decarbonization need of the automotive industry.

Competition vehicle:

General Motors will provide each team with a 2023 Cadillac LYRIQ where teams will demonstrate the potential of advanced propulsion systems, connected and automated vehicle (CAV) technologies, and other innovative technologies to analyze energy efficiency.

EcoCAR teams will utilize a combination of on-board sensors and bidirectional vehicle-to-everything (V2X) connectivity to implement energy efficient and customer-pleasing automated control features. Teams also will refine advanced powertrain along with charging and thermal systems to use grid electricity intelligently.

Competition Vision

EcoCAR provides a hands-on, real-world experience in STEM that:

EcoCAR incorporates the use of math-based tools to improve engineering education
This series challenges students to weigh all the benefits of their design, such as energy efficiency and consumer features, against the constraints of cost and risk of implementation
EcoCAR provides a platform to facilitate systems-level engineering curriculum and instruction in engineering departments at an elevated level
Students will participate in workshops and training to develop exceptional leadership, teamwork, and professional skills that will better prepare them for their future careers

EcoCAR will focus on DEI throughout all areas of the program, including an Equity in Mobility Challenge which challenges teams to identify and address specific equity and electrification challenges in the future of mobility through the application of innovative hardware and software solutions
Teams will strive to recruit and retain students that represent the diversity of automotive customers and promote an environment of inclusion and diversity within the program and among the participating teams
Teams will implement youth outreach and recruiting initiatives that promote careers in STEM

Participants will demonstrate the potential of advanced propulsion systems, connected and automated vehicle (CAV) technologies, and other innovative technologies to analyze energy efficiency, leading to greater transportation energy affordability, reliability, and security
EcoCAR will challenge students to weigh all the benefits of their design, such as energy efficiency and consumer features, against the constraints of cost and risk of implementation

Competition Goals:

To meet the decarbonization needs of the automotive industry by applying automation and connectivity technologies to state-of-the-art BEV platforms:

Utilize a combination of on-board sensors and bidirectional vehicle-to-everything (V2X) connectivity to implement energy efficient and customer-pleasing automated control features
Implement and refine advanced powertrain, charging, and thermal systems to use grid electricity intelligently.

Identify and address specific equity and electrification challenges in the future of mobility through the application of innovative hardware and software solutions

Establish and maintain effective relationships with team-selected customers to guide design decisions and implementation throughout the vehicle development process.

EcoCAR Competition NEWS:

Ready, set, goat: Mathworks’ Speedgoat training readying EcoCAR teams for industry

The hum of the 2023 Cadillac LYRIQ’s motor will be music to the EcoCAR EV Challenge teams’ ears. In this four-year collegiate automotive engineering competition, students will disassemble the Cadillac […]

EcoCAR Equity in Mobility: Community Challenge

From mobility infrastructure to passenger vehicle design, the Equity in Mobility: Community Challenge, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, charged EcoCAR students with researching issues that impact local underserved [...]

EcoCAR Excellence in Leadership

The EcoCAR Excellence in Leadership Award recognizes the skills that are critical for engineers, project managers and communicators to be successful within the EcoCAR project and throughout their careers. This [...]

Dr. Juan Calderon Receives Outstanding Faculty Award

The Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award recognizes exceptional efforts made by EcoCAR Faculty members who have positively integrated EcoCAR goals, objectives, and activities into their university’s undergraduate engineering curriculum, how they [...]

General Motors Women in STEM Award Winners

Each year, General Motors proudly sponsors the EcoCAR Women in STEM Awards, which honor women from across the various STEM disciplines who are demonstrating outstanding technical excellence and accomplishments through [...]

EcoCAR EV Challenge Headline Sponsors

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.

General Motors provides each competing team with a production vehicle, as well as vehicle components, seed money, technical mentoring and operational support.

MathWorks provides teams with a full suite of software tools, simulation models, training, technical mentoring and operational support.