What is the EcoCAR EV Challenge?

The EcoCAR EV Challenge is a four-year collegiate automotive engineering competition that brings together 15 North American universities to design and build the next generation battery electric vehicle (BEV). Teams integrate advanced propulsion systems, Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) technologies, and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) connectivity to create energy-efficient, customer-focused features that address the automotive industry’s decarbonization goals, showcasing the potential of cutting-edge automation and sustainable transportation solutions.
 

EcoCAR UCR Team Prepares for Final Year of EV Challenge as Part of the Top 15 Universities in North America!

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), General Motors, and MathWorks have named 15 North American universities to take part in the EcoCAR EV Challenge (2022–2026), the latest Advanced Vehicle Technology Competition (AVTC).  Managed by Argonne National Laboratory, the EcoCAR EV Challenge pushes teams to engineer a next-generation battery electric vehicle (BEV) that incorporates connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) technologies, energy-efficient systems, and customer-focused features, all while addressing the automotive industry’s decarbonization goals.

UC Riverside proudly stands among 15 elite North American universities competing in this prestigious automotive engineering challenge. We are in Year 3, refining and testing our transformed 2023 Cadillac LYRIQ, and preparing to enter the final year of the challenge. As we move into Year 4, the final year, we will demonstrate the latest advanced features of our vehicle and showcase our progress on a national stage. The EcoCAR UCR team empowers students to become leaders and innovators by giving them industry-level experience in the most advanced automotive research and development. Through this challenge, our students gain unparalleled hands-on experience in their chosen fields, access to career opportunities with sponsors and mentors, and even integrate EcoCAR tasks into their curriculum.

Our mission is to establish ourselves as a hub for automotive training in the Inland Empire, particularly for low-income and first-generation students. We're committed to investing in local education, promoting economic development, and fostering career opportunities, ensuring our community thrives in industry, academia, or government careers without the need to venture far from home. We strive to empower the next generation of leaders and innovators through hands-on experience in advanced automotive research and development.