What is the EcoCAR EV Challenge?

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 provides each team with a 2023 Cadillac LYRIQ – which the teams have four years to demonstrate the potential of advanced propulsion systems, connected and automated vehicle (CAV) technologies, and other innovative technologies to improve energy efficiency and safety.  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) are 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 started in Fall 2022 and will conclude in 2026.