Written by: Cooper Coyle and Jordan Geerts/Clemson University
Earlier in March, students and faculty from the
McMaster University & Mohawk College Battery Workforce Challenge team had
the opportunity to take part in the three-year competition’s first winter workshop
in the Detroit metro area. Excitement could be felt across the team as
participants waited for the unveiling of the competition vehicle and explored
the rich automotive history of Detroit.
Upon returning from Detroit, the McMaster
University & Mohawk College BattChallenge team had a lot to reflect on.
Year one has served as an opportunity for the two schools to create a
collective identity and mission which the team will embody.
“I found it really amazing that most of the
people involved with the BWC all started with joining a similar club, EcoCar,
and used that experience to climb the ladder and be so successful in their
careers,” said Shayan Malik, a member of the module design sub-team. “That
motivated me and showed me the impact it has on being involved with the BWC.”
Project management leader, Romulo Vieira, has worked diligently to create a successful team structure that encourages participation from all levels. Creating an inclusive and welcoming team environment has been essential to the team’s success and allows all students to be vocal in the team’s developments. McMaster University and Mohawk College continue to grow closer, and their ideas continue to grow stronger.
“I look forward going into the second year of the competition,” said Adam Khalid, the hardware team lead. “With much more clear direction and prototypes coming into fruition the most exciting part of the challenge is right around the corner.”
The workshop was informative and exciting for the students, and it offered the partnered schools a chance to grow closer. The trip was full of thrilling opportunities that inspired students and faculty alike.
Year one of the BattChallenge was mostly focused on conducting the project’s research and planning phase. For many on the McMaster University & Mohawk College team, the winter workshop was a chance to glimpse into year two of the competition through a visit to Chrysler Technical Center. Here, team representatives embarked on a tour of the facility and had the chance to view various kinds of testing done in a professional environment.
Seeing the unique equipment used by Chrysler to simulate real-world conditions not only demonstrated industry standard practices but showed students the process of what it takes for new cars to be released to the public. Year two will see teams tackling similar methods of rigorous technical testing as they begin to concept and develop a physical battery.
It has been an amazing first year for McMaster University & Mohawk College BattChallenge team. The experiences and skills acquired through the first leg of the competition have already been seen in the tremendous work produced by the entirely student-run teams. The overseeing faculty have nothing but admiration for the progress made over the last several months of development. With a strong guiding groundwork laid by the first year of the program, year two of the BattChallenge is gearing up to be one of groundbreaking successes and resounding triumphs.
“As we charge ahead into the second year of the competition, I’m eager to witness our team’s continued journey of innovation, as we grow in both expertise and members,” said Mahmoud Al Akchar, the McMaster University & Mohawk College BattChalenge team’s engineering manager. “I have full confidence in our team’s ability to achieve significant success together.”
