OSUEcoCAR
The Vehicle

2026 Jeep Cherokee

Our competition platform: a production 2026 Jeep Cherokee, re-engineered by students into a hybrid battery-electric vehicle over four years of development.

Platform
2026 Jeep Cherokee
Powertrain
Hybrid-Electric Conversion
Status
In Development
Development Roadmap

Four Years of Development

EcoCAR is a four-year program. Each year moves the Cherokee from a clean-sheet concept toward a refined, competition-ready electric vehicle.

Y1
Concept & Architecture

Vehicle requirements, propulsion architecture selection, and full-powertrain modeling and simulation.

Y2
Build & Integration

First hardware in the car — battery, motor, and harnesses integrated; control software brought online.

Milestone · End of Year 2
The Cherokee Hits the Road

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.

Y3
Refinement & Testing

Calibration, safety validation, and on-road testing to mature every subsystem to competition standard.

Y4
Optimization & Reveal

Final optimization, competition finals, and the vehicle's full public reveal.

Public Displays

See the Cherokee in Person

Once it's road-ready, the Cherokee appears at Ohio State events, partner showcases, and EcoCAR competition finals. Each public showing is announced here as it's confirmed.

Architecture Selection

Coming Soon

Our final propulsion and systems architecture is being finalized. Once selected, the full breakdown — powertrain layout, energy storage, and controls — will be published here.