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Background

The EcoCAR Mobility Challenge (EcoCAR) was the 12th U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Advanced Vehicle Technology Competition (AVTC) series. The four-year competition challenged 11 university teams to apply advanced propulsion systems, as well as connected and automated vehicle technology to improve the energy efficiency, safety and consumer appeal of the 2019 Chevrolet Blazer. This series was headline sponsored by DOE, General Motors (GM) and MathWorks, and managed by Argonne National Laboratory.

EcoCAR aimed to develop a highly skilled, domestic workforce by providing hands-on experience designing and building next-generation mobility solutions to meet our nation’s future energy and mobility challenges. Participating teams applied advanced propulsion systems, electrification, SAE Level 2 automation, and vehicle connectivity to improve the energy efficiency of a 2019 Chevrolet Blazer – while balancing factors such as emissions, safety, utility, and consumer acceptability. SAE Level 2 automation refers to a vehicle has combined automated functions, like acceleration and steering, but the driver must remain engaged with the driving task and monitor the environment at all times.

This competition began in fall of 2018 and concluded in spring 2022.

EcoCAR Mobility Challenge

Inovations & Hightlights

Over the course of the EcoCAR Mobility Challenge, teams faced and overcame profound hurdles during the COVID 19 Pandemic. All teams were able to produce running vehicles that passed Vehicle Technical Inspections. In addition, teams demonstrated several Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) technologies, participated in an Over the Road Event from Yuma AZ to Phoenix AZ, demonstrated a team-developed functioning adaptive cruise control (ACC) system with full speed range as well as the ability to autonomously navigate a signalized intersection using vehicle-to-infrastructure technology. All of these achievements are a tremendous testament to the talent, grit, and resourcefulness of our EcoCAR teams.

2018

The 12th AVTC, the EcoCAR Mobility Challenge, begins

2019

EcoCAR Mobility Challenge is the first AVTC where teams can implement powertrain control based on perception system inputs

2020

Human Machine Interface / User Experience added as a focus area of EcoCAR

2021

Teams demonstrate Adaptive Cruise Control on-vehicle

2022

  • More than 1,000 students from 11 North American universities participate each year, gaining real-world experience solving complex engineering challenges and building teamwork and leadership skills that they will take with them into their future careers.
  • Going the extra mile! The 11 EcoCAR schools have logged >10,000 test miles on their vehicles in this year alone
  • By the numbers: A total of 2646 students have participated in the EcoCAR Mobility Challenge. EcoCAR students from more than 38 college majors have participated in the latest EcoCAR Mobility challenge. More than 200 companies have hired an EcoCAR student (either full time or for an internship).
  • According to the 2022 EcoCAR Salary Survey, EcoCAR graduates earn more than $4,000-$6,000 more than their non-EcoCAR peers in their first job.
  • EcoCAR teams have modified their conventional 2019 Chevrolet Blazers to electrify the propulsion system through the addition of a HV battery pack and one or more electric motors. Teams were successful in developing their perception system and autonomous driving features as well as vehicle-to-infrastructure connectivity features. This allows the vehicle to implement adaptive cruise control and autonomous navigate a V2X connected intersection with a traffic light
  • EcoCAR teams have integrated Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC) based Vehicle to Everything (V2X ) radios which enables the vehicles to interact with other vehicles and Road Side Units (RSU). The vehicles use Signal Phase and Timing (SPaT) and MAP information from the RSUs to navigate signalized intersections by autonomously coming to a stop at the red light and resuming on green without any driver interference.
  • EcoCAR Sponsors helped students transform their Chevrolet Blazers. The following sponsored components can be found in the newly integrated vehicles:
    • GM engine-transmission pairs
    • GM HEV4 Energy Storage System (from the Malibu HEV)
    • Denso Integrated Starter Generator motor
    • Magna ERAD electric drive system
    • AAM electric motor
  • EcoCAR Mobility Challenge Concludes

Universities Involved

Winners & Awards

Take a look back on the successes of teams throughout the EcoCAR Mobility Challenge

EcoCAR Mobility Challenge Media

Take a look back at the EcoCAR Mobility Challenge Media!

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https://saemobilus.sae.org/content/12-01-02-0005/

https://saemobilus.sae.org/content/2019-01-1013/

https://saemobilus.sae.org/content/2019-01-0876/

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https://saemobilus.sae.org/content/2020-01-0082/.

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https://saemobilus.sae.org/content/2020-01-0888/

https://doi.org/10.4271/2020-01-1359

https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9292/9/2/228

https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.36757.06886

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https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4893/13/3/62

https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/7/1638

https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/7476/

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8891250/

https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation.aspx?paperid=97656

https://saemobilus.sae.org/content/2020-01-0082/.

https://saemobilus.sae.org/content/2021-01-0110/

https://saemobilus.sae.org/content/2020-01-0082/

https://saemobilus.sae.org/content/2021-01-0110/

https://saemobilus.sae.org/content/2020-01-1437/

https://saemobilus.sae.org/content/14-10-01-0005/

https://saemobilus.sae.org/content/2019-01-1013/

https://saemobilus.sae.org/content/2019-01-0876/

https://saemobilus.sae.org/content/2020-01-0968/

https://saemobilus.sae.org/content/2020-01-1438/

https://saemobilus.sae.org/content/2020-01-0888/

https://doi.org/10.4271/2020-01-1359

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adts.201800196

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8803392/

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9423268/

https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9292/9/2/228

https://www.mdpi.com/2032-6653/12/2/54

https://saemobilus.sae.org/content/14-10-01-0001/ ISSN: 2691-3747 e-ISSN: 2691-3755"

ProQuest No. 13420121

ProQuest No. 10844828

ProQuest No. 10846269

ProQuest No. 10844826

https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/7476/

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8891250/

https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation.aspx?paperid=97656

https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/7847/

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adts.201800196

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8803392/

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9423268/

https://saemobilus.sae.org/content/2020-01-0082/.

https://saemobilus.sae.org/content/2021-01-0110/

https://saemobilus.sae.org/content/2019-01-1013/

https://saemobilus.sae.org/content/2019-01-0876/

https://saemobilus.sae.org/content/2020-01-0968/

https://saemobilus.sae.org/content/2020-01-1438/

https://saemobilus.sae.org/content/2020-01-0888/

https://doi.org/10.4271/2020-01-1359

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https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9292/9/2/228

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https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9292/9/2/228

https://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/dynamicsystems/article-abstract/143/9/094504/1107110/Comparison-of-Model-Predictive-Control-and?redirectedFrom=fulltext

https://saemobilus.sae.org/content/14-10-01-0001/

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https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/7476/

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8891250/

https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation.aspx?paperid=97656

https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/7847/

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