AUTO

Ohio State & Wilberforce University Take the EcoCAR EV Challenge Crown

June 17, 2023

The Ohio State and Wilberforce University Team won Year One in the EcoCAR EV Challenge, a collegiate engineering competition for electric vehicles.
The EcoCAR EV Challenge is a four-year program managed by Argonne National Laboratory and sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, General Motors, and MathWorks. It fosters automotive engineering education and practical application.
The OSU and Wilberforce Team excelled in 12 categories and secured 10 first-place finishes. Their victory emphasizes collaboration and diversity in the EV industry.

In a showdown of engineering excellence, the Ohio State (OSU) and Wilberforce University Team emerged as the champions of Year One in the prestigious EcoCAR Electric Vehicle (EV) Challenge. The competition, held in sunny Orlando, Florida from May 21 to 26, 2023, brought together 15 North American universities to showcase their skills in cutting-edge automotive engineering. Let’s dive into the exhilarating details of this groundbreaking event!

Year One: Where Big Ideas Take Flight

As the curtains rose on the EcoCAR EV Challenge, the participants were charged with an ambitious mission: to enhance the energy efficiency of a 2023 Cadillac LYRIQ while maintaining its performance and driving experience. The OSU and Wilberforce Team rose to the occasion, outshining their competitors with a strategy that dazzled the judges and earned them the well-deserved top spot.

Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Alejandro Moreno expressed his awe at the students’ capacity and drive, praising their potential as trailblazers in the EV sector. He highlighted the significance of the EcoCAR EV Challenge in fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce that represents all communities and inspires future generations in STEM fields.

The Power of Collaboration: OSU and Wilberforce University

While OSU has been a stalwart in Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions for over two decades, this year marked a pivotal moment as they joined forces with Wilberforce University (HBCU). Combining their talents presented unique challenges, but the team demonstrated remarkable cohesion, proving that unity is the key to success.

Quoting the team’s exhilaration, “We did it! Our collaborative efforts paid off, and we couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve accomplished together.” The team’s synergy was evident as they triumphed in 12 judged categories, securing 10 first-place finishes among the pre-competition deliverables. Their remarkable performance earned them a prize money of $10,000, a testament to their dedication and innovation.

Year Two: Engineering the Future of Electric Vehicles

Building on their impressive victory, each team will receive a next-generation battery electric vehicle (BEV), the Cadillac LYRIQ, provided by General Motors. In Year Two, the challenge will be to re-engineer the vehicle with energy-efficient and customer-friendly features, aligning with the industry’s decarbonization goals.

Ken Morris, Vice President of Electric and Autonomous Vehicles at GM, expressed his excitement for the upcoming phase, stating, “We can’t wait to witness how these students channel their ideas and put their skills to the test in reengineering their Cadillac LYRIQs.” The competition promises to be a showcase of groundbreaking innovations and forward-thinking solutions.

Powerful Tools for Success: MATLAB and Simulink

The EcoCAR EV Challenge empowers participants to harness the potential of Model-Based Design, an innovative approach that combines the power of MATLAB and Simulink. These tools enable students to quickly manage and collaborate on projects, develop complex embedded systems, and simulate their EV designs effectively.

Lauren Tabolinsky, Global Academic Student Programs Manager at MathWorks, praised the teams’ prowess in using MATLAB and Simulink, highlighting their crucial role in shaping the EV landscape of the future. With access to comprehensive software tools, simulation models, training, mentoring, and operational support, the students have all the resources they need to thrive.

The EcoCAR EV Challenge has kick-started a new era of automotive engineering education, fostering a vibrant EV talent pipeline that will revolutionize the mobility industry. With Ohio State and Wilberforce University leading the charge, the competition promises to be a journey filled with innovation, collaboration, and inspiration.

Stay tuned as these brilliant minds continue to push boundaries, engineer the future, and drive us toward a sustainable and electrifying world!

For more information about the EcoCAR EV Challenge, visit avtcseries.org.

About EcoCAR EV Challenge:

The EcoCAR EV Challenge is a four-year collegiate engineering program managed by Argonne National Laboratory and sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), General Motors, and MathWorks. It builds upon the successful history of the Department of Energy Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions (AVTC) and exemplifies the power of government-industry partnerships in addressing energy and mobility challenges. General Motors, along with other sponsors, provides each team with a Cadillac LYRIQ, while MathWorks equips them with cutting-edge software tools and support. The U.S. Department of Energy and Argonne National Laboratory offer logistical support and evaluation services, ensuring a smooth and impactful competition.