Technical Contributions
AVTC teams follow the industry standard of designing and developing their advanced propulsion system and controls in a virtual environment using state-of-the-art industry tools and practices before the integration and build phase of their vehicle begins.
Often students graduate from these programs and go into industry with the knowledge of environmental impact, advanced technologies and controls, and well-to-wheel view. Over the years, students have designed, integrated, and refined many advanced technology vehicles. Take a look back at all of the automotive contributions, innovations, and highlights throughout the 30-year AVTC history!
1988 - 1993
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- 1988
- Methanol Marathon begins with converting 1988 Chevrolet Corsica’s to operate on M85
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- 1989
- First full emissions testing event at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Ann Arbor, Michigan
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- 1991
- Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) Challenge began in 1991 when General Motors donated a GMC Sierra 2500 pickup truck to each university
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- 1992
- Siemens Automotive implemented Old Dominion University’s design for a multi-alternative-fuel injector, which was used in Chrysler CNG vehicles
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- 1993
- AVTCs added dynamic events including ride and handling and engineering design review into competitions
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- 1993
- First ground-up vehicles were built during HEV Challenge
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- 1993
- The competition added a mini-series, Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) Challenge, to test the electric vehicle aspect of the ground up vehicles
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- 1993
- UC-Davis successfully built the first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle in AVTC history
1994 - 1997
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- 1994
- HEVs built by University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Maryland, and University of California-Davis were used to evaluate SAE draft HEV emissions test procedures for J1711
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- 1994
- The University of Maryland developed a hybrid electric vehicle similar to the Toyota Prius, which didn’t debut until 1996
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- 1994
- Kohler Engines implemented the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s small engine emissions to improve Kohler engine performance
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- 1995
- HEV Challenge marked the largest fleet of hybrid electric vehicles in the United States at that time, with a total of 51 vehicles
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- 1995
- Consumer acceptability was added into the competitions
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- 1995
- Propane is introduced as an alternative fuel for AVTCs with Chrysler-donated Minivans for the Propane Vehicle Challenge
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- 1996
- The first pickup truck platform was used when Chrysler donated Dodge Dakota pickup trucks for the final year of Propane Vehicle Challenge
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- 1997
- General Motors donated Chevrolet Malibu’s to teams competing in the Ethanol Vehicle Challenge
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- 1997
- Ethanol Vehicle Challenge marked the first time in AVTCs that teams were allowed to reconfigure and alter the vehicle’s powertrain control modules
1998 - 2003
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- 1998
- Fuel cell technology is introduced into the program
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- 1998
- The student competitions program officially becomes known as Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions
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- 1998
- General Motors adds Chevrolet Silverado’s as the vehicle platform for the Ethanol Vehicle Challenge
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- 1999
- Virginia Tech became the first university to run at least one competition event as a fuel cell vehicle
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- 1999
- General Motors donates Chevrolet Suburbans to teams competing in FutureTruck
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- 2000
- The final competition year of Ethanol Vehicle Challenge was held entirely in Canada – a first in AVTC history
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- 2001
- University of Idaho created the world’s first Tri-brid, combining hydraulic, ultracapacitors, and a combustion engine in one vehicle.
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- 2001
- Ford Motor Company donates Ford Explorers to teams competing in the final three years of FutureTruck
2004 - 2010
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- 2004
- Five AVTC teams utilized hydrogen as a second fuel
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- 2004
- General Motors introduces the Chevrolet Equinox as the vehicle platform for Challenge X: Crossover to Sustainable Mobility
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- 2005
- The first scored communications/outreach program was introduced in AVTCs
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- 2006
- Outstanding Women in Engineering awards were introduced in AVTCS
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- 2006
- University of Waterloo competed successfully in every event as a fully functional fuel cell vehicle – a first for a fuel cell vehicle in AVTCs
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- 2007
- The University of California at Davis used plug-in hybrid technology for their energy source
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- 2008
- General Motors donated Saturn Vue’s to teams participating in EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge
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- 2008
- EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge marked the first time a hardware-in-the loop activity was introduced into an academic setting
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- 2008
- Teams were introduced to prismatic energy storage systems for the first time
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- 2009
- Emissions and energy consumption events using SAE J1711 Utility Factor (UF) standards were introduced
2011 - Present
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- 2011
- General Motors donated Chevrolet Malibu’s to 15 universities competing in EcoCAR 2: Plugging In to the Future
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- 2011
- EcoCAR 2 implemented a 4-cycle drive cycle to reflect current test methods at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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- 2012
- Several teams utilized 3D printing for vehicle development during EcoCAR 2
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- 2012
- AVTCs added upstream criteria (CO, NOx, THC) emission testing into the scored deliverables, as well as measuring electric energy consumption during EcoCAR 2
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- 2013
- Colorado State University designed and built their own fuel cell stacks for their hydrogen vehicle
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- 2014
- The University of Washington designed a tactile shape changing touch screen using overlay technology
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- 2014
- Ohio State University developed a vehicle powertrain model that could simulate wheel slip and traction control simulation
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- 2014
- Innovation becomes a new focus area in AVTCs
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- 2015
- General Montors donate a 2016 Chevrolet Camaro to each of the 16 EcoCAR 3 participating schools
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- 2015
- Teams began utilizing computer vision for Advanced Driver Assistance System Applications
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- 2016
- Some teams begin implementing their innovation projects into their vehicles
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- 2018
- The 12th AVTC, the EcoCAR Mobility Challenge, begins
