Written by: Chengyu Ma
In a groundbreaking event at UC Riverside’s Center for Environment Research and Technology (CE-CERT) on October 13, 2023, the EcoCAR Team at UC Riverside proudly unveiled the much-anticipated EcoCAR EV Challenge Competition vehicle, the 2023 Cadillac LYRIQ. Many esteemed guests were invited to the event held at the team’s headquarters at CE-CERT, including UCR’s Bourns College of Engineering Dean Christopher Lynch, members of his Advisory Council, professors, and many long-term supporters of the University.
Remarks were given by lead faculty advisor and Associate Dean Dr. Matthew Barth, UCR’s College of Engineering Dean Christopher Lynch, and Project Manager Vincent Le, where they reintroduced the competition to those present and shared the team’s vision, mission and goals for year 2 of the competition.
The team aims to empower the next generation of leaders and innovators, and become a hub of automotive training in the Inland Empire to create new opportunities for both our community and students, especially for those who come from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds.
The speakers also emphasized how sponsorships make the program possible and encouraged guests to engage with and share about the EcoCAR Challenge with their networks actively.
After the unveiling, guests had the opportunity to see the LYRIQ up close and network with the EcoCAR students and faculty present. The team showcased posters of the team’s architectures for Propulsion Controls and Modeling (PCM), and Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) and passed around sponsorship packets for the team. There were many engaging discussions on the design direction of the vehicle, the application of the program within the curriculum, and potential opportunities for sponsorship and outreach collaboration to benefit the local community. Through this event, the team received a surge in interest in both the UCR EcoCAR Team and the competition from potential sponsors and team members. The event ended strong with a group photo of all team members present. The team has since grown exponentially in size, with this being just the first of many team bonding events to come.
Interested in creating a sustainable future? Explore the working opportunities with the UCR EcoCAR team and learn more HERE!
If you are considering sponsoring or partnering with our team, please reach out and ask about our sponsorship packet at ecocar@ucr.edu .
