Photo: Dr. Mario Medina, Battery Workforce Challenge 2023
Cal State LA has been selected as one of 12 universities nationwide to participate in the Battery Workforce Challenge, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at advancing electric vehicle (EV) technology and combating climate change. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Stellantis recently launched the Battery Workforce Challenge Competition, a public-private partnership that will train the next generation of engineers, technicians, and workers to address the unprecedented demand for a domestic EV/Battery workforce.
The team at Cal State LA secured over $500,000 in funding from the competition sponsors, the Sikand SITI-Center and ECST. In true interdisciplinary fashion, this effort is led by Profs. Masood Shahverdi and Curtis Wang from Electrical Engineering, Chris Bachman and Mario Medina from Mechanical Engineering, and David Blekhman from Technology. The team brings a wealth of expertise in battery technology and automotive design.
Participation in the Battery Workforce Challenge will provide Cal State LA students with numerous opportunities for professional growth and development. They will gain hands-on experience in cutting-edge EV technology, collaborate with industry experts, and participate in technical workshops to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the rapidly growing EV sector. During the three-year competition, students will be designing, building, and testing a lithium battery pack for EVs.
Within the first three months, the Cal State LA team has moved quickly. First, the students and faculty advisors formed the Charging Eagles, a student organization with 66 enthusiastic engineering students from across ECST. The team also formed a partnership with Cerritos College, whose students will work alongside the Cal State LA team. The five sub-teams are working on designing a 100-kWh battery pack and associated hardware to ensure safety, reliability, and performance.
Cal State LA is excited to join the following universities in accelerating the progress of EV technology and reducing carbon emissions: Clemson University, Colorado School of Mines, Jackson State University, McMaster University, Ohio State University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, University of Alabama, University of California – Merced, University of Michigan – Dearborn, University of Nevada – Las Vegas, and University of Waterloo. To learn more, please visit: https://battchallenge.org/