Chem-E-Car August 2025 Updates

In April, UBC Chem-E-Car competed at AIChE’s Pacific Northwest Regional Competition in Calgary. The team brought two cars to the competition, Wall-E and the Gru-mobile. The competition consisted of a performance challenge and a poster presentation. During the performance challenge, cars were aimed to stop closest to the target distance using only chemical reactions. The poster presentation allowed teams to showcase their designs and safety features.

Competition Results

Both cars performed strongly! Wall-E placed 1st in both the performance challenge and the poster presentation, earning a spot at the Annual Chem-E-Car Competition at AlChE’s Student Conference this November in Boston, Massachusetts. The Gru-mobile secured 2nd place in the performance challenge and 3rd in the poster presentation.

Current Progress

Over the summer, the whole team has been working hard to upgrade Wall-E for the National Competition. The Battery Subteam is experimenting with new electrolytes to improve the output voltage consistency. The Lab Subteam is refining the chemical reaction to enhance the accuracy and precision of the stopping mechanism. The Circuitry Subteam is optimizing sensor code and adding new features such as speakers and moving arms to elevate aesthetics. The Mechanical Subteam is redesigning internal components, which includes a new drivetrain and a refreshed exterior look. Additionally, the team is going to begin working on two new cars this fall!

Chem-E-Car is Recruiting!

Applications can be found on the UBC Chem-E-Car website and are open until September 7th. Students can connect with the team at the Campus Life Expo on Main Mall or in the CHBE Atrium on Imagine Day to learn more and meet the team.