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The EcoCAR EV Challenge is the cutting edge of engineering education – providing an unparalleled, hands-on educational experience that transforms the traditional classroom environment into a hub of automotive innovation.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is pleased to partner with General Motors (GM) and MathWorks to sponsor the 13th DOE Advanced Vehicle Technology Competition (AVTC) series – the EcoCAR EV Challenge (EcoCAR).
The EcoCAR EV Challenge is at the cutting edge of automotive engineering education and challenges students to engineer a next generation battery electric vehicle (BEV) that utilizes automation and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) connectivity to implement energy efficient and customer-pleasing features, while meeting the decarbonization need of the automotive industry.
15 North American universities have been selected to compete in the EcoCAR EV Challenge.
General Motors will provide each team with a 2023 Cadillac LYRIQ – which they have four years to demonstrate the potential of advanced propulsion systems, connected and automated vehicle (CAV) technologies, and other innovative technologies to analyze energy efficiency. EcoCAR teams will utilize a combination of on-board sensors and bidirectional vehicle-to-everything (V2X) connectivity to implement energy efficient and customer-pleasing automated control features. Teams also will refine advanced powertrain along with charging and thermal systems to use grid electricity intelligently.
EcoCAR EV Challenge includes a major focus on equity in mobility and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and is incorporated into all areas of the program, including an Innovation in Mobility Equity initiative, which challenges the teams to identify and address specific equity and electrification issues in mobility through the application of innovative hardware and software solutions.
The competition will kick off in Fall 2022 and conclude in 2026.
EcoCAR provides a hands-on, real-world experience in STEM that:
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in partnership with Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), provide program management, team evaluation, logistical support, in order to educate the next generation of automotive engineers and accelerate the development of technologies of interest to the DOE and the automotive industry.
General Motors provides each competing team with a production vehicle, as well as vehicle components, seed money, technical mentoring and operational support.
MathWorks provides teams with a full suite of software tools, simulation models, training, technical mentoring and operational support.
Other sponsors provide hardware, software and training.
Use the form below to learn more about key dates in the EcoCAR EV Challenge.