PHOENIX, May 23, 2025 – The Ohio State University and Wilberforce University team has won the Year Three EcoCAR EV Challenge, a multi-year cross-disciplinary engineering competition among 15 North American universities that aims to educate and inspire the next generation of automotive industry talent. Georgia Tech took second place, and the University of Alabama received third place. Collectively, winning teams were awarded more than $100,000 for applying their knowledge and skills in engineering, teamwork, and problem-solving to showcase innovative solutions for advanced vehicle technology that meet consumer expectations for performance and driving experience. Managed by Argonne National Laboratory, EcoCAR is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), General Motors (GM), and MathWorks.
“Congratulations to the Ohio State University and Wilberforce University team for their outstanding achievements in the EcoCAR EV Challenge. We are inspired by your innovation and commitment to advancing vehicle technology. At GM, we are proud to support this competition and the development of future leaders in automotive engineering,” said William Cawthorne, Chief Engineer for Ultium Gen1 Renewable Energy Storage System, General Motors. “We were thrilled to see the exceptional progress made with your Cadillac LYRIQs this year and look forward to seeing each team’s continued progress and success.”
In Fall 2023, 13 university teams received a 2023 Cadillac LYRIQ that they reengineered to demonstrate the potential of real-world technical vehicle solutions, including automation and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) connectivity. From May 12-17, 2025, the teams put their vehicles to the test during the first stage of the competition at the GM Desert Proving Ground in Yuma, AZ. Team vehicles were assessed in various events including a Connected Intersection Navigation Challenge, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) Feature Evaluation and a Consumer Ride and Drive Event where judges assumed the role of a prospective customer and performed a rigorous evaluation of all aspects of the team vehicles that pertain to consumer appeal. Teams then proceeded to San Diego, CA for presentations, a sponsor networking event, and the awards ceremony on May 22.
Earlier this year, a key milestone was achieved during the Dynamometer Testing Event at the California Air Resources Board, where the Ohio State University and Wilberforce University team successfully completed the closed-loop Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) energy consumption evaluation event. This was conducted using Argonne National Laboratory’s RoadRunner simulation tool for real-time lead vehicle simulation as part of the Everything-in-the-loop (XIL) workflow. The team also successfully completed the EcoCAR Connected Intersection Navigation Challenge, demonstrating exceptional integration of Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) connectivity in their LYRIQ by navigating a connected, signalized intersection on a closed course at the GM Desert Proving Ground.
All 13 EcoCAR teams delivered strong performance during the Year 3 Competition, showcasing the success of their design, integration, and testing efforts. Each team successfully passed the rigorous Vehicle Technical Inspection and cleared the low-speed On-Road Safety Evaluation, meeting critical safety and integration standards. Additionally, all teams participated in the Consumer Appeal Ride and Drive event, where judges experienced the vehicles firsthand. Over the course of the week, teams collectively completed a total of 68 distinct vehicle events—an impressive testament to their technical capabilities and dedication.
“MathWorks is proud to support the EcoCAR EV Challenge and witness the innovations these talented students have brought to life. Their adept use of MATLAB and Simulink to develop cutting-edge advanced vehicle technologies exemplifies the power of model-based design in solving real-world engineering challenges,” said Connell D’Souza, Manager of Education Programs, MathWorks. “Congratulations to all the teams for their hard work and dedication.”
To view the full list of winners, visit the Year 3 Competition.
