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Battery Workforce Challenge Names Champions For Year Two Of Collegiate EV Battery Competition
Students from various North American colleges gathered in Indianapolis for the Battery Workforce Challenge, a prestigious competition focused on electric vehicle battery manufacturing. The event, sponsored by Stellantis and managed by Argonne National Laboratory with the U.S. Department of Energy, saw McMaster University and Mohawk College clinch first place in the second year of this three-year contest.
The competition tasked participants with designing and testing a module for an electric vehicle battery pack. This module was to be integrated into a 2024 Ram ProMaster EV commercial van, donated by Stellantis. The Ohio State University and Columbus State Community College team secured second place, while Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and Ivy Tech Community College took third.
The Battery Workforce Challenge is a public-private initiative aimed at advancing engineering education in North America. It involves 12 university teams paired with community colleges. Students gain hands-on experience by collaborating with industry experts to deepen their understanding of automotive technologies.
In its second year, the challenge required students to develop comprehensive battery architecture, including a battery module, disconnect unit, and software design. Industry professionals provided guidance through design reviews to enhance students' knowledge of battery systems.
The final phase of year two occurred at Ivy Tech Community College and the Battery Innovation Center in Indianapolis from May 4 to 9. Participants were awarded numerous engineering accolades and sponsor-related prizes, along with $100,000 in prize money from industry partners.
Micky Bly, senior vice president at Stellantis, stated: "From the fall 2024 workshop at the Stellantis headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan, to the winter workshop in Greenville, South Carolina... this year’s students have shown the determination and potential to be among the top engineers and technicians in the automotive space."
Future Prospects for Participants
As part of their ongoing efforts, teams will continue assembling components into a complete battery pack for integration into the Ram ProMaster EV van. This work van is designed specifically for electrification with a unibody structure that optimally houses the production battery pack.
The Battery Workforce Challenge is part of a larger DOE initiative that includes regional training programs with vocational schools, STEM education for youth, and online resources for career development. The program aims to build a skilled workforce capable of supporting the domestic automotive sector.
Additional sponsors include Samsung SDI America; American Battery Technology Company; Eaton; AVL; Dana Inc.; Analog Devices; Gamma Technologies; Hesse Mechatronics; MathWorks; Vibration Research; Vector North America; Volta Foundation.
This competition not only fosters innovation but also provides students with valuable real-world experience in designing batteries suitable for larger vehicles like commercial vans. As they progress through this challenge, participants are poised to become future leaders in automotive engineering.
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