2026 Jeep Cherokee
Our competition vehicle on the Stellantis track of the EcoCAR Innovation Challenge. Stellantis supplies the vehicle, and from fall 2026 through spring 2030 the team designs and integrates an enhanced hybrid propulsion system, with a focus on high-voltage energy storage, powertrain control, and off-road performance.
Four Years of Development
EcoCAR is a four-year program. Each year moves the Cherokee from concept toward a refined, competition-ready hybrid vehicle. The team is in Year 1.
Vehicle requirements, propulsion architecture selection, and full-powertrain modeling and simulation.
First hardware in the car — battery, motor, and harnesses integrated; control software brought online.
With a complete powertrain integrated and running, the vehicle is road-worthy and ready to meet the public — making its debut at Ohio State events and EcoCAR showcases.
Calibration, safety validation, and on-road testing to mature every subsystem to competition standard.
Final optimization, competition finals, and the vehicle's full public reveal.
See the Cherokee in Person
Once it's road-ready, the Cherokee appears at Ohio State events, partner showcases, and EcoCAR competition finals. Public showings are announced on the team's LinkedIn as they're confirmed.
In Progress
The team is selecting its propulsion architecture. Once it is final, the powertrain layout, energy storage, and controls breakdown will be published here.