The 2023 Cadillac Lyriq has been selected as the vehicle that will be used in the upcoming EcoCar EV Challenge, a program sponsored by the Department of Energy (DOE) in which students will engineer a battery electric vehicle throughout a four-year competition.
The EcoCar EV Challenge is managed by the Argonne National Laboratory, and “serves as a proving ground for future automotive engineers,” according to a press release. A total of 15 North American universities were selected to participate in the program, and each team within the challenge will be presented with a 2023 Cadillac Lyriq donated by Cadillac’s parent company, General Motors. The luxury electric crossover will provide a platform for students to “design, build, refine and demonstrate the potential of their advanced propulsion systems and connected autonomous vehicle technologies.”
Teams participating in the EcoCar EV Challenge will be faced with real-world scenarios that require solutions. One such scenario is the need to enhance the propulsion system within the Lyriq to maximize its efficiency without sacrificing customer expectations of performance and drivability.
“We are proud to support EcoCAR and its mission to help prepare the next generation of the automotive workforce,” said Steve Carlisle, GM executive vice president and president of North America. “As students work on the Lyriq, they’re developing real-world knowledge and skills that will help accelerate their impact on the transformation of the auto industry. The EcoCar program provides an exceptional educational experience for students and an exceptional talent pipeline for GM. We look forward to working with these students on our journey toward a zero emissions future.”
The competition will begin in the fall of 2022 and conclude in the spring of 2026 at the following universities:
As a reminder, the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq rides on the new BEV3 platform and the Debut Edition features a 100.4 kWh lithium-ion Ultium battery pack and a single Ultium Drive motor mounted on the rear axle. The electric driveline is rated at 340 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque, and Cadillac estimates the Lyriq will have 300 miles of driving range on a full charge.
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