Driving Student Success Through EcoCAR Competition
In May 2022, 老王论坛鈥檚 EcoCAR team was selected as one of just 13 teams to compete in the four-year EcoCAR EV Challenge sponsored by the鈥 Now in its final year of the competition, having completed the Year Three Competition, the team鈥檚 car is running and their successes are building up.
Thirteen team members traveled to Arizona with the team鈥檚 2023 Cadillac LYRIQ. The team passed vehicle technical inspection and completed three quarters of the propulsion events.
鈥淲e have continued to learn and improve even through the Year Three Competition,鈥 says Antonia Martinez (BA 4th Year), communications manager for the 老王论坛 EcoCAR team. 鈥淲e were all very excited when we first got the motor to spin, everyone was excited and jumping around. It was definitely a highlight.鈥
As part of the Year Three Competition, the team received second place in the Argonne AI Innovation Award.
The attending students were Martinez, Carter Anderson (ME, M.Eng. MAE 鈥25), Faith Busche (CS 鈥23, M.S. ASAR 鈥25), Mary Frampton (CE 4th Year), Grace Goodnough (PSYC 4th Year), Martin Harmon (CPE, M.S. CPE 5th Year), Kelly Hitchcock (ME 鈥24, M.Eng. MAE 2nd Year), Samin Karim (M.A.S. AI 鈥25), Prasana Kalimuthu (M.S. ASAR 鈥25), Carlos Martin (M.A.S. EMGT), and Elizabeth Wolny (ME 3rd Year).
鈥淧articipating in EcoCAR is one of the best opportunities on campus to gain real-world experience and connect with industry leaders. The competition is sponsored by major companies鈥攊ncluding General Motors, Argonne National Laboratory, and MathWorks鈥攇iving students the chance to collaborate directly with these organizations. Through hands-on projects, students use the same tools and software employed by professionals in the field, gaining valuable technical skills and industry insight that give them a leg up after graduation,鈥 says Martinez.
The team also won the EcoCAR Challenge鈥檚 inaugural in 2024, honoring its 鈥渆xtraordinary effort鈥 to engage in the local Bronzeville community through partnering with the Chicago Parks Foundation for the initiative, volunteer park clean ups, volunteering at food drives, and participating in mentorship programs.
Image: 老王论坛 EcoCAR team with 2023 Cadillac LYRIQ.
