EcoCAR Challenge

09/08/2026

The future of vehicle technology starts with the next generation of innovators. 🚗💡

The EcoCAR Innovation Challenge brings students, universities, industry and government together to tackle real-world challenges at the intersection of advanced mobility, emerging technology and workforce development.

Over the next four years, 20 student teams will transform ideas into real-world innovation, gaining hands-on experience, developing industry-ready skills and helping shape the future of transportation.

This is more than a competition. It’s an opportunity to prepare the next generation of engineers to lead what’s next.


U.S. Department of Energy U.S. Department of Energy Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation General Motors Stellantis North America MathWorks Argonne National Laboratory

07/20/2026

For 38 years, the Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions (AVTCs) have launched the next generation of leaders in engineering, automation, and advanced mobility.

🎥 Hear directly from students and university leaders in our latest video as they share how AVTCs strengthen educational programs, prepare students for successful careers, and foster lasting partnerships among educational institutions, industry, and government.

The U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Vehicle Technology Competi...

07/16/2026

As the EcoCAR EV Challenge comes to a close, we want to thank everyone who made this four-year journey possible.

To our students: thank you for your creativity, resilience, and countless hours of hard work. You embraced every challenge, grew as engineers, project managers, communicators, and leaders.

To our faculty advisors and mentors: thank you for your guidance, encouragement, and unwavering commitment to student success.

And to our sponsors, thank you for investing in the next generation of talent and making this competition possible. Your support has empowered hundreds of students with real-world experience that will have a lasting impact on the transportation industry.

Together, we've built more than vehicles. We've built careers, partnerships, and a community dedicated to driving transportation technology.

On behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy, General Motors, MathWorks, and Argonne National Laboratory, thank you for making the EcoCAR EV Challenge an unforgettable success.

07/09/2026

What a ride it's been.

Hybrid Electric Vehicle Team at Virginia Tech
Illinois Tech Ecocar
Ucdecocar
McMaster Engineering EcoCAR Challenge
UWAFT - University of Waterloo Alternative Fuels Team
Ohio State EcoCAR
MSU EcoCar
The Ecocar Team at UC Riverside
Georgia Tech EcoCar
West Virginia University EcoCAR Challenge
Embry-Riddle/Bethune-Cookman Ecocar Team
UA Ecocar
UT Austin EcoCAR

07/01/2026

What is the best part of EcoCAR?

🎥 From real-world engineering experience to lifelong friendships, EcoCAR students share what makes the competition an unforgettable part of their college journey.

06/29/2026

Celebrating innovation in action. 💡

The Hybrid Electric Vehicle Team at Virginia Tech earned the 1st Place Argonne National Laboratory AI Innovation Award for their creative use of artificial intelligence to advance Lane Centering Control technology in the EcoCAR EV Challenge.

🔗Read the full story: https://avtcseries.org/news-media/virginia-tech-wins-argonne-ai-innovation-award-for-lane-centering-technology/

06/24/2026

At the EcoCAR EV Challenge Year 4 Competition, the inaugural John Haraf Excellence in Leadership Award recognized students who embody the leadership, dedication, and collaborative spirit of the late John Haraf, former Executive Steering Committee organizer for General Motors in the Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions.

Congratulations to Vincent Lombardi of McMaster Engineering EcoCAR Challenge, the 2025–2026 John Haraf Excellence in Leadership Award recipient, and Eric Gustafson of Georgia Tech EcoCar, this year's runner-up.

Their leadership went far beyond titles and deliverables. Through technical excellence, mentorship, collaboration, and a commitment to strengthening the broader EcoCAR community, they helped build stronger teams and model the kind of leadership that will shape the future of advanced mobility.

🔗 Read their stories and learn how they are carrying forward John Haraf's legacy.

https://avtcseries.org/news-media/ecocar-honors-the-inaugural-john-haraf-excellence-in-leadership-award-winners/

06/22/2026

In honor of John Haraf, whose leadership and collaboration helped shape the Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions, we proudly establish the John Haraf Excellence in Leadership Award.

As an EcoCAR Executive Steering Committee Organizer for General Motors and a dedicated judge and presenter of the Excellence in Leadership Award, John's passion for developing future mobility leaders left a lasting mark on the program and all who had the privilege to work alongside him.

The John Haraf Excellence in Leadership Award stands as a tribute to his legacy and will be presented to individuals who embody the leadership, integrity, and commitment that defined his contributions.

With gratitude and remembrance, we honor John’s lasting impact on AVTCs.