The shift toward e-mobility is making great strides across the globe, especially in emerging markets such as India. This is where the newly launched EV Challenge by IPG Automotive comes in: With a strong focus on EV-specific challenges, the competition offers students a hands-on and future-oriented platform to explore EV technologies and to test them under realistic conditions. The aim of the competition is to travel a long distance on a busy Indian road as fast and efficiently as possible.
Roots and concept inspired by the AV Challenge 2021 in Korea
The EV Challenge was inspired by the successful AV Challenge held in Korea in 2021. IPG Automotive in Korea partnered with Hyundai Motor Group for the competition and sparked students’ interest in autonomous driving. The successful concept was translated to the challenges of e-mobility and launched again, this time alongside our strong partner Bosch. The Indian market and its dynamic growth offer an ideal framework for the project. After quickly agreeing to the project on management level, the official go-ahead was given during the kick-off workshop at Bosch in Ludwigsburg in 2024.
A successful start with strong partnerships
As with the AV Challenge, all teams participating in the EV Challenge benefit from extensive software license packages, enabling teams to build virtual prototypes, implement realistic test scenarios, and parameterize their models individually.
With the EV Challenge, IPG Automotive and Bosch are putting a spotlight on the development and testing of EV-specific functions, such as charging behavior and energy management. One aspect that stands out is the integration of a multi-ego application in the simulation environment: Participants can simulate multiple electric vehicles at the same time, including the booking of charging stations with variable charging capacity – a key element for modeling typical challenges in e-mobility realistically.
Impressive response from a motivated competition
The EV Challenge already received great feedback: Over 70 teams registered for the competition, underlining the relevance of the topic as well as the potential of the Indian education and innovation sector.
IPG Automotive in Inda, tutors, and experts collaborated closely to provide participants with the necessary tools, training courses, and information to successfully take part in the competition. The open and active exchange of all involved parties laid the foundation for joint learning and continuous advancement in the challenge.
Preparations for the second phase of the competition are in full swing: It will focus on the interaction with AI agents to book charging stations, optimize planning along the route for most efficient charging, and technical fine-tuning as well as the further design of simulation scenarios.
The top five teams will compete in the grand final of the EV Challenge, taking place at the EU Auto Conference in Bangalore on September 16.
