On the road again

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), General Motors, Mathworks and managed by Argonne National Laboratory, the EcoCAR Mobility Challenge (EMC) is a collegiate automotive engineering competition. The EcoCAR Mobility Challenge tasks 11 universities across North America to redesign the 2019 Chevrolet Blazer into an energy-efficient hybrid with autonomous capabilities such as Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). The Blazer will continue to provide the luxuries of an SUV but have an energy-efficient powertrain designed and installed by students. The goal is to optimize the driving performance and retain high safety and consumer standards while maintaining the promise of a “stylish utility vehicle”.

The four-year competition began in Fall of 2018 and will conclude in the Spring of 2022. Teams compete annually to show how they have implemented their designs, energy-efficient technologies and connected and automated vehicle systems. Along with the technical challenges, teams are tasked with hosting and attending youth outreach events that encourage students to pursue STEM-related fields. The WVU team includes students from the Statler College of Engineering and the Reed College of Media. The team enters its fourth and final year of competition ready to improve upon its third-place finish in Year 3 of the EMC

The Challenge

• Reduce Environmental Impact and Energy Consumption
• Maintain Performance, Utility, and Safety
• Improve Aerodynamics
• Meet Energy and Environmental Goals
• Establish Innovative CAV (Connected and Automated Vehicle) Technologies

Background on Blazer

After over a decade, the Chevrolet Blazer is returning to the road. First produced in 1969, the Chevy Blazer has seen many models and influenced the creation of others, including the Trailblazer and Tahoe. However, unlike the previous Blazer, this model is not based on a pickup truck platform. Serving as a counterpart to the GMC Acadia as a midsize SUV, it will be an option between the compact Equinox and the full-size Traverse. Featuring two-row seating, the Blazer will be a five-seat mid-size crossover SUV with options for a standard 2.5L 4-cylinder engine or an upgrade to 3.6L V6 engine and AWD.

Built for adventure and excitement the new Blazer is a testament to the original. The Blazer is a design-focused vehicle with three different appearance features: standard, Premier, and RS. The Blazer Premier features chrome accents, and leather-appointed and suede microfiber seating surfaces. Blazer RS has a black mesh grille, performance-inspired front air dam, black bowtie, and black leather-appointed seating surfaces with red detail. Considered to be a competitor of the Ford Edge, the Chevy Blazer’s design is meant to have a trendy sporty style inspired by the Chevy Camaro, with the capabilities and conveniences of an SUV.

West Virginia University is one of only 11 universities chosen to participate in the four-year EcoCAR Mobility Challenge which encompasses the work of over 1000 students from across North America. The other academic institutions that participate in this competition include Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Georgia Institute of Technology, McMaster University, Mississippi State University, Ohio State University, University of Alabama, University of Tennessee, University of Washington, University of Waterloo, and Virginia Tech University. WVU finished Year 4 of the EcoCAR Mobility Challenge sixth overall, with first place finishes in Drive Quality and the CAV Perception Systems and ACC Drive Quality Evaluation. The team also placed second in the overall Communications Program.

West Virginia University’s EcoCAR Mobility Challenge Team consists of more than 60-80, undergraduate, graduate, and Ph.D. students from the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources and the Reed College of Media.

Team Leadership

Year 4

Year 3

Year 2

Year 1

Year 2

Part of the competition challenges teams to host and attend youth outreach events in order to educate students on STEM and STEM-related fields of study. Teams present information about the competition, provide educational activities and allow the kids to explore the newest vehicle.

For More Information

Visit us at the WVU EcoCAR Mobility Challenge Garage

345 Evansdale Drive, Morgantown, WV 26506

Follow us on social media

  @WVUEcoCARChallenge

  @WVU_EcoCAR

  West Virginia University EcoCAR

Email us

To discuss drives, youth outreach opportunities or questions, contact Haleigh Fields.

Methanol Marathon (1988-1990)

Natural Gas Vehicle Challenge (1990-1993)

^{Photo by:  AVTC Series}

HEV Challenge (1992-1995)

^{Photo by:  AVTC Series}

FutureCar (1995-1999)

^{Photo by:  AVTC Series}

FutureTruck (1999-2004)

Challenge X (2004-2008)

EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge (2008-2011)

EcoCAR 3 (2014-2018)

News

EcoCAR EV Challenge

• WVU EcoCAR Team Selected to Compete in New EcoCAR EV Challenge

EcoCAR Mobility Challenge

• WVU Finishes Sixth in EcoCAR Mobility Challenge Year Four Competition; Nix Receives NSF Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award
• WVU Finishes Third in EcoCAR Mobility Challenge Year Three Competition
• WVU team selected to compete in EcoCAR Mobility Challenge
• WVU set to return to EcoCAR Challenge; 1 of 12 institutions selected to participate

EcoCAR 3

• WVU Finishes Second in DOE-GM Sponsored EcoCAR 3 Competition
• WVU Nabs Fourth Place Finish in Year Three of EcoCAR 3 Competition
• WVU Team makes Strong Showing at EcoCAR 3 Year 2 Competition
• WVU EcoCAR 3 Team Announces Plan for Hybrid Redesign of Chevy Camero