Become a BattChallenger
EVs are becoming part of our every day lives. The need for EV workers has never been greater. Take charge of your future and become a BattChallenger. Join in the game-changing work of the Battery Workforce Challenge collegiate competition.
This three-year engineering competition challenges 12 North American teams comprised of universities and their vocational school partners to design, build, test and integrate an advanced EV battery pack into a ’24 Ram ProMaster EV.
the problem
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, North America’s battery cell production is forecasted to exceed 1,200 GWh of capacity by 2030. That’s enough cells for at least 12-15 million new EVs annually.
Building the battery supply chain will require more than 230k additional jobs by 2030. Original equipment manufacturers face massive challenges in finding, recruiting and training their workers efficiently and equitably.
Some of the items you’ll tackle in year two to help fill those gaps include:
- Design for thermal system and propagation
- Design for recycling
- Module design proposal
- Cell calibration analysis
- Battery management system
- Cell sensing
- Battery pack design
- Much more
power up the future
The Battery Workforce Challenge is an unmatched, hands-on learning experience. Teams compete against their future automotive industry peers, fostering key relationships with them that often last the span of their careers. As a BattChallenger, you’ll walk away with:
- Access to top jobs with North America’s premier employers
- Know-how to design a custom battery pack utilizing production battery cells
- Confidence in navigating industry simulation software
- Ability to follow industry design and development processes focused on battery design, simulation, controls development, testing, vehicle integration and demonstration
- Gain valuable project management, communications, teamwork and problem-solving skills
- Readiness to follow real-world auto industry milestones
- Networks of auto industry subject-matter experts
- Research and publishing opportunities
pick a Swimlane
Each BattChallenge team is comprised of six swimlanes that have unique sets of goals, skillsets and deliverables that help achieve the overall goals of the competition. You’ll need to pick which swimlane best suits your skillset.
Battery Pack Hardware
What is it?
The Battery Hardware team focuses on component design and delivery of all parts integrated into the battery systems. Team members can become subject-matter experts on components with a focus on electrical, mechanical and thermal disciplines. Components of interest include battery structure, cells and management systems as well as thermal system and electrical distribution. This team will also offer a leadership opportunity for those interested in leading the swimlane.
Position Activities + Focus
- Develop expertise in the design and delivery of a battery sub-component or sub-system such as the battery module or battery disconnect unit
- Act as the subject-matter expert of the component when discussing with team members
- Lead and facilitate discussions with sponsors in designing the component for manufacturing
- Perform component-level testing to ensure attribute performance
Preferred Skills
- Computer-aided engineering, drafting and/or manufacturing
- Understanding of heat transfer
- Knowledge of circuits, electrical schematics and/or power delivery
- Knowledge of statics analysis, mechanical design, deformation of materials and/or vibration
Preferred Major
- Electrical engineering
- Computer engineering
- Mechanical engineering
- Material engineering or related
Additional Requirements
- If the student identified in this role is a BattScholar, they must be an undergraduate and fulfill the terms of the BattScholar position
Battery Pack Software
What is it?
The Battery Pack Software team develops controls, signal measurement and communications applications, providing the vehicle required functions within the high-voltage battery system. You will work with the Vehicle System Integration and Battery Pack Hardware crews to ensure all signals, inputs and outputs of the battery pack and management system meet the operation requirements. You will develop and implement algorithms to report the battery’s state and cell balance. This team will also offer a leadership opportunity for those interested in leading the swimlane.
Position Activities + Focus
- Deliver functional software following industry processes and standards
- Design safe software systems meeting technical requirements for battery pack monitoring and effective vehicle communication
- Monitor cell and pack voltages, temperatures and current, and react to abnormal values
- Develop and implement algorithms using cell characterization and aging data
- Validate code through xIL testing
- Create diagnostic strategies
Preferred Skills
- Understanding of software development process
- Well-versed in one or more coding languages
- Ability to learn, understand and communicate advanced battery software technologies
- Knowledge of sensor data processing and algorithm development
Preferred Major
- Electrical engineering
- Computer science
- Software engineering
Additional Requirements
- If the student identified in this role is a BattScholar, they must be an undergraduate and fulfill the terms of the BattScholar position
Communications Leadership
What is it?
The communications lead executes communications deliverables for their university’s BattChallenge team. Activities include designing, implementing, and coordinating communications and outreach engagement. A communications or public relations undergrad or grad student would be best suited for this position, but responsibilities could be shared among interested engineering team members. This position is not funded but offers invaluable hands-on, real-world experience.
Position Activities + Focus
- Enhance the visibility of Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions, BattChallenge and your team
- Promote the benefits of advanced vehicle technologies
- Highlight team achievements by sharing blogs and social media posts and hosting local events
- Execute youth STEM education outreach events
Preferred Skills
- Strong writing skills
- Event planning
- Social media
- Video production
- Management skills
- Ability to learn, understand and communicate advanced vehicle technologies
Preferred Major
- Communications
- Public relations
Additional Requirements
- If the student identified in this role is a BattScholar, they must be an undergraduate and fulfill the terms of the BattScholar position
Engineering Management
What is it?
The engineering manager is a competition-funded graduate student, from any engineering discipline, who serves as a key leader for the technical team. Preferably, the candidate will hold an undergraduate engineering degree.
Position Activities + Focus
- Manage the Battery Pack Hardware, Battery Pack Software and Vehicle System Integration teams and balance personnel resources
- Assess project requirements and translate them into team-level requirements
- Be the key technical point of contact
- Work alongside the lead faculty advisor and project manager to plan, execute and manage all competition deliverables and requirements
- Maintain an effective operation and ensure the team remains in alignment with industry practices
- Track and execute all engineering and technical-level activities, knowledge transfer, and recruiting and retention
- Represent team and manage risks
Preferred Skills
- Management and leadership
- Strong presentation and communication skills
- Ability to learn, understand and communicate advanced battery technology
- Detail oriented
- Ability to gracefully receive criticism and critique
Preferred Major
- Electrical engineering
- Computer engineering
- Mechanical engineering
- Material engineering or related
Project Management
What is it?
The project manager is a competition-funded grad student who serves in a key management role for the team. We’re seeking a grad student from any discipline — up to the discretion of the lead faculty advisor. They must have an undergrad engineering degree or be currently enrolled in an engineering grad program.
Position Activities + Focus
- Define organizational processes, create project plans and provide project oversight
- Be the point of contact for team with competition organizers
- Work alongside lead faculty advisor to plan, execute, and manage all deliverables
- Ensure efficient operation aligned with business and auto industry practices
- Work with the college of engineering staff and student team to manage all local sponsorship and fundraising
- Track and execute all activities, knowledge transfer, and recruiting and retention
- Work to integrate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into team processes and tasks
- Represent team at competitions and workshops
Preferred Skills
- Management and leadership
- Strong presentation skills
- Ability to learn and communicate battery and advanced vehicle technologies
- Detail oriented
- Able to receive critiques gracefully
Preferred Major
- Engineering graduate or undergraduate + MBA
Vehicle Systems Integration
What is it?
The vehicle system integration team incorporates components into the battery and vehicle. You will learn about multiple aspects of the high voltage battery, interfacing with every component. You may also focus on computer-aided engineering to ensure pack-level performance in thermal and structural aspects. This team will also offer a leadership opportunity for those interested in leading the swimlane.
Position Activities + Focus
- Lead teams in integrating components into an assembly through packaging and computer-aided design management
- Execute finite-element analysis of structures using computer-aided engineering
- Perform thermal and structural simulation analysis of battery module using computer-aided engineering
- Lead prototype development of battery system (i.e. bread boards, sub-system prove-out testing)
- Perform pack performance analysis via physical and simulation testing
Preferred Skills
- Computer-aided engineering, drafting and/or manufacturing
- Understanding of heat transfer
- Knowledge of circuits, electrical schematics and/or power delivery
- Knowledge of statics analysis, mechanical design, deformation of materials and/or vibration
Preferred Major
- Electrical engineering
- Computer engineering
- Mechanical engineering
- Material engineering or related
Additional Requirements
- If the student identified in this role is a BattScholar, they must be an undergraduate and fulfill the terms of the BattScholar position
Hear from your peers
Want to get involved?
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