UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA
About
The University of Alabama’s EcoCAR EV Challenge Year 3 team has a rich history in Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions. The team has evolved from the Natural Gas Vehicle Challenge, EcoCAR 3, and the EcoCAR Mobility Challenge. These competitions tasked UA with enhancing the performance, efficiency, and consumer appeal of various vehicles. In the ongoing EcoCAR EV Challenge, the focus is on transforming a Cadillac LYRIQ into an energy-efficient, semi-autonomous vehicle, placing 3rd Overall in Year 1 and 4th Overall in Year 2. The other accolades achieved during the first two years of competition are 1st in Communications, Connected and Automated Vehicles presentation, and System Design and Integration presentation.
As the UA EcoCAR team enters Year 3, they envision expanding their impact by continuing outreach efforts, especially within the local community. A key focus is promoting STEM education through partnerships with organizations like the Tuscaloosa Public Library, where members mentor students on electric vehicle technology and STEM-related ideas.
Additionally, the team aims to grow the capabilities of the vehicle. Our mission to transform the vehicle from rear wheel drive to all wheel drive, create a longer battery life, and allow for specific autonomous features are in progress. From installing a new front motor into the LYRIQ to developing an infotainment system, the big picture is to create an enjoyable driving experience including all modifications.
Looking forward, the vision includes creating long-term relationships with the members, advocating for electric vehicle adoption in the state of Alabama, and ensuring accurate preparation for a future in sustainable mobility. Through collaboration, technical excellence, and strategic outreach, the UA EcoCAR team is poised to make a significant impact this year.
Mission
Our mission is not just to compete but to prepare the next generation of leaders in the automotive industry by promoting hands-on learning and fostering industry connections in engineering, business, and communication.
The team’s mission statement is: The University of Alabama EcoCAR Team exists to compete at its best in the Department of Energy’s EcoCAR Electric Vehicle Challenge, expand knowledge, and remove mobility inequities by cultivating a team of motivated and career ready students, leading research and development initiatives, and focusing on sustainable mobility transformation.
To grow the team positively and uniformly, this statement will be followed closely for the remainder of this competition cycle.
Goals
When it comes to the LYRIQ, the team will bring the vehicle to a drivable state then introduce calibrations that refine how the LYRIQ performs. This process ensures smooth, responsive handling while optimizing the vehicle’s overall efficiency. This plays a crucial role in producing a fully operational vehicle that maintains the signature Cadillac identity in both drive quality and appearance. By focusing on these elements, the LYRIQ must deliver a seamless blend of performance and integration, ensuring it stays true to GM’s ideas while embracing the innovations made by our team.
Secondly, the team will enhance its community impact by conducting STEM outreach programs specifically based on this year’s updates to the LYRIQ. Communications aims to host at least three STEM education workshops in collaboration with local schools and community organizations each semester such as events with the Tuscaloosa Public Library. These workshops will provide hands-on learning experiences for students, with a focus on underrepresented groups in STEM, to inspire future engineers and raise awareness about electric vehicles. This
includes creating lasting connections with partners that go beyond Year 3.
Finally, The Mobility Challenge team will develop and present a fully functional prototype of adapted hand controls for the Cadillac LYRIQ to address accessibility challenges in personal transportation for individuals with physical disabilities. This goal will be achieved by building upon the Year 2 “Ergonomics Rig” design and collaborating with Mississippi State University to enhance the stability, support, and usability of the portable hand controls. The prototype will be tested by Alabama Adapted Athletics (Alabama Adapted) and community partners in a simulated driving environment, with feedback collected to refine the design.
Christian Darr
Project Manager
University of Alabama Team
Lena Barrido
Mobility Lead
University of Alabama Team
Lisé Badeaux
Communications Manager
University of Alabama Team
Nik Collins
Propulsion Controls and Modeling Lead
University of Alabama Team
Sahuj Mehta
Connected and Automated Vehicles Lead
University of Alabama Team
Kyle Scott
System Design and Integration Lead
University of Alabama Team
Ben Fitzpatrick
Engineering Manager
University of Alabama Team
Dr. Paul Puzinauskas
Lead Faculty Advisor
University of Alabama Team
Dr. Hwan-Sik Yoon
CAVs Faculty Advisor
University of Alabama Team
Get Involved
We have rolling admission for all teams:
- Communications: Manages youth, community, and government outreach, increases awareness of AVTCs, and manages social media to create relationships with student groups on campus and help recruitment efforts.
- Connected and Automated Vehicles: Responsible for creating autonomous features and apps for the LYRIQ while developing software and performing research on the LYRIQ’s eco-friendly capabilities.
- Equity in Mobility: Promotes inclusivity between EcoCAR team members, raises awareness about inequity in the automotive industry, and prototypes innovative solutions for accessible vehicles.
- Project Management: Oversees maintaining project timeline, budget, and fundraising while managing consistent recruitment for the team and overseeing all work done in the competition and for each sub team.
- Propulsions Control and Modelling: Responsible for designing and testing energy efficient control strategies for the team’s vehicle allowing team added components and the stock vehicle to communicate and function effectively.
- System Design and Integration: Designs and integrates all hardware integral for the vehicle’s function including components necessary for propulsion, controls, and automation as well as other auxiliary systems to support the team’s goals.
Full team meetings occur monthly in HM Comer 1026 from 5:15 – 6:00 PM CST. The dates are as follows for this semester:
- 10/8
- 11/5
- 12/3
However, each sub team holds meetings throughout the week at various times to perform their duties and tasks.
For volunteering opportunities, there are an average of 1-2 per month including:
- Community outreach programs, including STEM education events and local partnerships (Tuscaloosa Public Library, Tuscaloosa Children’s Hands-On Museum)
- Team-hosted events, such as campus demonstrations of the Cadillac LYRIQ project and College of Engineering based
- Support technical workshops and testing sessions as a volunteer assistant if not on immediate
Contact Information
Address
245 7th Ave, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
Want to get involved? Contact Project Manager, Christian Darr, at crdarr@crimson.ua.edu.
