UT Selected for EcoCAR Innovation Challenge
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has been selected to participate in the prestigious EcoCAR Innovation Challenge from Fall 2026 through Spring 2030. Led by faculty advisors Dr. Subhadeep Chakraborty – a CTR affiliated faculty member, Dr. Pingen Chen, and Dr. Hairong Qi, a collaborative UT student team will engineer next-generation, energy-efficient, and intelligent mobility solutions.
Administered by Argonne National Laboratory, the EcoCAR Innovation Challenge is the 15th installment of the renowned Advanced Vehicle Technology Competition (AVTC) series. The four-year collegiate competition focuses on pushing automotive innovation and developing the future engineering workforce through hands-on design experiences with emerging technologies.
UT is one of only 20 North American universities chosen for this latest installment. The university brings a rich legacy to the event; since 1988, the Tickle College of Engineering has participated in 11 AVTC events, providing unique design opportunities to more than 1,000 UT students over that span.
Driving Innovation with AI and Advanced Computing
The collaborative UT team will tackle the vehicle engineering process from initial concept to potential commercialization. To optimize the hybrid vehicle platform, students will utilize cutting-edge tools including:
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML)
- Exascale computing
- Advanced human-machine interaction interfaces
The competition offers an unparalleled bridge between advanced academic research and commercial automotive manufacturing.
“Being part of EcoCAR gives me a unique chance to work hands-on with real vehicle systems while collaborating with a leading OEM,” said EcoCAR student team leader Adry Lain, a mechanical engineering PhD student at UT. “It’s an exciting way to bridge my research with real-world impact from the very start of my PhD.”