University Competition: Georgia Tech Takes Top Honors as EcoCAR EV Challenge Concludes Four-Year Run

The EcoCAR EV Challenge wrapped up its four-year collegiate engineering competition this month, with Georgia Tech taking first place during final testing and presentations held in Michigan.

McMaster University finished second overall, while Virginia Tech claimed third place in the competition, which challenged university engineering teams to transform a 2023 Cadillac LYRIQ into a showcase for next-generation vehicle technology.

The competition, managed by Argonne National Laboratory and sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, General Motors and MathWorks, brought together student teams from universities across North America to explore advanced propulsion systems, vehicle automation and connected driving technologies.

Final testing took place May 11-16 at General Motors’ Milford Proving Ground, where teams subjected their reengineered electric vehicles to a series of dynamic evaluations, including connected driving demonstrations, adaptive cruise control testing and consumer ride-and-drive events.

According to organizers, the challenge was designed to help prepare the next generation of automotive engineers while demonstrating emerging transportation technologies in real-world applications.

“Inspiring the next generation of engineering talent is an important component of DOE’s strategy to maintain America’s leadership in applied energy research and innovation,” said Matthew Grosso, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Technology with the U.S. Department of Energy.

Georgia Tech earned 867 out of 1,000 possible points and stood out in both communications and vehicle performance categories. Judges highlighted the team’s integrated automation systems, connected driving features and one-pedal driving capability.

Competition officials said teams also demonstrated lateral automation features such as lane centering and automatic parking while balancing energy efficiency, consumer usability and vehicle safety.

The conclusion of the EcoCAR EV Challenge also signals the transition to a new phase of Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions.

In April, organizers announced the launch of the EcoCAR Innovation Challenge, a new four-year competition involving 20 North American universities. Unlike the outgoing challenge, the new competition will feature two vehicle platforms supplied by General Motors and Stellantis, including the Chevrolet Blazer EV and Jeep Cherokee hybrid.

The new competition will expand its focus to include artificial intelligence, machine learning, advanced battery systems and intelligent mobility technologies as automakers continue reshaping the future of transportation. The twenty teams for the next cycle of competition appear to be set. Other universities will have to root for a winner from the sidelines.

The Universities Selected to Participate in the EcoCAR Innovation Challenge:

1. California State University, Los Angeles – Stellantis Track
2. Colorado School of Mines – Stellantis Track
3. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – General Motors Track
4. Georgia Institute of Technology – General Motors Track
5. Louisiana State University – Stellantis Track
6. McMaster University – General Motors Track
7. Mississippi State University – General Motors Track
8. The Ohio State University – Stellantis Track
9. Pennsylvania State University – General Motors Track
10. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology – Stellantis Track
11. Texas A&M University – Stellantis Track
12. The University of Alabama – General Motors Track
13. University at Buffalo – Stellantis Track
14. University of North Carolina at Charlotte – Stellantis Track
15. University of Tennessee, Knoxville – Stellantis Track
16. University of Waterloo – Stellantis Track
17. University of Wisconsin-Madison – General Motors Track
18. Virgina Polytechnic Institute and State University – General Motors Track
19. Western Michigan University – General Motors Track
20. West Virginia University – General Motors Track