Regina Garcia
The Department of Energy has partnered with automaker and mobility provider Stellantis to launch the Battery Workforce Challenge, a three-year battery design competition that aims to promote the transition to electric mobility and help the economy achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
Argonne National Library will manage the competition, under which participants will strive to design, build, test and integrate an advanced electric vehicle battery into a future Stellantis vehicle, the DOE research center said Friday.
Initiative joiners from universities will work with vocational partners, including community colleges, trades and apprenticeship programs to create a domestic talent pool to fill needed positions in the electric vehicle/battery industry.
The competition will commence in the fall and will also include programs such as vocational training, youth education in science, technology, engineering and math, as well as career and technical education.
Paul Kearns, director at Argonne National Laboratory, said the program will have 11 participating teams, including college and vocational students.
“We are pleased to manage this competition, which supports both advanced battery innovations and the development of the next generation of battery researchers and professionals,” he added.
