Subteams
Project Management
The Project Management (PM) team is in charge of maintaining project timeline, budget, and fundraising. They also manage recruitment for the team and oversee all work done in the competition.
Communications
The Communications team manages youth, community, and government outreach, increases awareness of AVTCs, and manages social media. The team also handles relations with student groups on campus and helps recruitment with the PM team.
Equity in Mobility
The Equity in Mobility team (EiM) is a unique team that has aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion, such as DEI delegates, internal culture programming, but also incorporates technical work that works to solve mobility barriers in the automotive industry.
Systems Design and Integration
The Systems Design and Integration (SDI) team is the one in charge of designing, manufacturing, and integrating parts into the vehicle. In Year 2, they’ll be completely tearing the car apart from the subframe, interior, exterior, thermal systems, propulsion system, and suspension and integrating a dual motor setup.
Connected and Automated Vehicles
The Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) team develops the autonomous features and apps on the LYRIQ. This team will do work on setting up the Vehicle to Everything simulation, user experience app development, controls simulation setup, longitudinal and lateral controls development, and algorithm refinement cycles.
Propulsions Controls and Modeling
The Propulsion Controls and Modeling (PCM) team model, simulate, and test controls on the vehicle. They work on controller development, simulations and safety on the vehicle. They also work on regenerative braking, system diagnostics, and HIL Test Bench Setup.
COMPETING Universities
The EcoCAR EV Challenge hosts 13 teams and 15 schools. The teams are:
EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY/ BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY
GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
MCMASTER UNIVERSITY – CAN
MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY/WILBERFORCE UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, AUSTIN
UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO – CAN
VIRGINIA TECH
WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY
Past Competitions
EcoCAR Mobility Challenge
Natural Gas Vehicle Challenge
EcoCAR Mobility Challenge
2018 - 2022
In the EcoCAR Mobility Challenge, teams took a 2019 Chevrolet Blazer and transformed it from an internal combustion engine to a hybrid vehicle. This 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 Blazer. Learn more here.
EcoCAR 3
Natural Gas Vehicle Challenge
EcoCAR Mobility Challenge
2014 - 2018
The U.S. DOE and General Motors are challenged 16 North American universities to redesign a Chevrolet Camaro into a hybrid-electric car to reduce environmental impact, while maintaining the muscle and performance expected from this iconic American car. Learn more here.
Natural Gas Vehicle Challenge
Natural Gas Vehicle Challenge
Natural Gas Vehicle Challenge
1991 - 1993
The University of Alabama worked on a GMC Sierra 2500 pickup truck and converted the truck to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG). The required modifications to the trucks were substantial and involved adding natural gas fuel tanks, adapting the fuel delivery system and engine control system, and modifying the exhaust system (i.e., catalytic converter) to minimize emissions. Learn more here.