Georgia Tech Selected for Upcoming EcoCAR Challenge

Georgia Tech students will once again take part in a national competition that connects them directly with automotive industry leaders to develop the next generation of mobility innovations. 

For the fourth consecutive cycle, Georgia Tech has been selected to participate in the Advanced Vehicle Technology Competition’s EcoCAR Challenge, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, General Motors, Stellantis, MathWorks, and other industry partners. 

Georgia Tech is among 20 universities chosen for the four-year competition, which challenges students to apply emerging technologies — including artificial intelligence, machine learning, and exascale computing — to create intelligent mobility solutions. 

The Institute is one of 10 schools competing on the General Motors track and has been provided a 2026 Chevrolet Blazer EV. During the cycle, the team will modify the vehicle’s propulsion system to optimize efficiency and design connected and automated vehicle technologies without sacrificing safety or driving dynamics, closely mirroring industry goals. 

Recruitment for the competition will begin this spring, following the conclusion of the current cycle, which culminates in final competition events in Detroit in late May. 

Made up of more than 50 undergraduate and graduate students from six of Georgia Tech’s Colleges, the team reflects what faculty advisor Antonia Antoniou believes is the essence of the competition. Antoniou is a professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering. 

“We have students represented from all over campus, and they have risen to meet every challenge,” she said. “They work together to optimize, design, and execute these tasks. Everything you can think of that we do at Georgia Tech happens while we're working on this car — from engineering and design of hardware and software to communications.” 

Across six subteams, EcoCAR members have transformed a Cadillac LYRIQ EV to include new motors, a selectable drivetrain, and automated driving features. After testing the vehicle in environments ranging from Georgia Tech’s Student Competition Center to the Arizona desert, the team has earned multiple second-place finishes at competitions and first-place awards for presentation skills. 

Antoniou, as well as David Taylor, a professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering who will enter his fifth cycle, will return for the latest challenge, and three new advisors will join the team, including Frank K. Webb Academic Professional Chair in Communication Skills in the Woodruff School Jill Fennell and associate professors Sam Coogan (ECE) and Shuman Xia (ME). 

Participation in the EcoCAR Challenge is paired with coursework through Georgia Tech’s Vertically Integrated Projects program, allowing students to gain hands-on experience while earning academic credit. The technical training and real-world problem-solving skills developed through the program make the competition a valuable experience, said Mason Shackelford, subsystem design and integration lead.  

“A lot of what you do on the job, you have to learn on the job, and that’s what makes EcoCAR such a great opportunity,” Shackelford said. “You learn something new every day; there is always a new challenge and the thrill of finding unique ways to solve them. You get to meet a lot of people, work on a great team, and apply what you learn in class.” 

Eric Gustafson, a graduate student in mechanical engineering, has worked on the project for five years, beginning as an undergraduate at Georgia Tech. As he prepares to graduate and start his career at MathWorks, he said he cannot imagine his time at Tech without EcoCAR and encouraged more students to join the upcoming cycle. 

“When I look back in 15 years on what I did at Tech, all my memories will be of this competition,” Gustafson said. “Traveling to different testing sites — Austin, Los Angeles, Detroit, and Orlando — working with these amazing people, the 12-hour days. Those are going to be core memories forever.” 

For application information, visit the EcoCAR VIP’s website.