UW EcoCAR

The UW EcoCAR team combines talented students from across disciplines, including engineering, communications, and business majors, to transform a conventional car into the most energy efficient vehicle possible.

Each EcoCAR challenge is a multi-year competition among schools across the country. Each team is given the same car to start and participate in yearly competitions to show off their designs and test their cars. The competitions cover several stages, including design, implementation and real-world testing. UW has been participating in EcoCAR challenges since 2011.

From 2018 to 2022, the UW EcoCAR team will be competing in the EcoCAR Mobility Challenge. The competition is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, General Motors, MathWorks, and is managed by Argonne National Laboratory. Teams are challenged to redesign a 2019 Chevrolet Blazer in order to reduce energy consumption and emissions, as well as apply SAE Level 2 automation. This is done by implementing advanced propulsion systems, electrification, and vehicle connectivity, all while balancing factors such as emissions, safety, utility, and consumer acceptability. Additional information, including detailed descriptions of sub-teams, can be found on the UW EcoCAR website.