Written By: Anna Ying (Communications Manager), Jennifer Lin (Communications member)
As the McMaster University and Mohawk College team continues through Year 3 of the Battery Workforce Challenge, we’re exploring what makes this experience so meaningful — the late nights, troubleshooting prototypes, refining designs, and turning long hours in the lab into real progress. Let’s hear what a few of our team members had to say!
For Kavish Wadehra, being the Battery Hardware Team Manager means turning theory into practice. “We turn engineering concepts into real systems,” Kavish said, “It’s a chance to transform classroom learning into something that actually moves.”
Building on that idea of hands-on growth, Lewis Gross, our Engineering Manager, also sees the BattChallenge as a way to bring people and ideas together through shared learning. “It’s not just about building batteries — it’s about building the mindset for the future of sustainable mobility,” Gross said.
When asked about their favorite part of the BattChallenge, Andrei Veremeenko, our Vocational Batt Scholar, said it’s the people. “My favorite thing about the BattChallenge is the opportunity to connect with like-minded people. These people have not just become friends throughout the duration of the competition but also colleagues in the transportation industry,” he said.
Thomas Callejas, the team’s Module Design Lead, reflected on how much he’s learned over the past two years — from mastering CAD and understanding how battery systems work together to strengthening his leadership skills. He shared that BattChallenge “has given me the chance to gain knowledge across a wide range of topics.”
Romulo Vieira, the Project Manager said he’s most excited for the “lab-to-road” moment when all the hard work finally pays off. “Seeing data match our models and the van just work! And honestly, the best part will be watching our students’ excitement when it happens,” he said.
Beyond the technical work, the team also has its own personality and traditions. Here are 5 fun facts that makes the team unique.
Q: What’s something unique about your team or university/vocational school’s involvement?
A: McMaster University was ranked #1 in North America for advancing health and wellbeing in the Times Higher Education 2025 Impact Rankings.
Q: What proportion of the team members are new to the BattChallenge this year?
A: About 65% of our team members are new to the competition, bringing fresh energy and ideas for Year 3.
Q: What’s the go-to food for the weekly meetings?
A: Pizza! We always have at least three boxes of pizzas for our weekly meetings.
Q: What song would be the team’s anthem?
California Gurls by Katy Perry.
Q: Who’s most likely to stay in the lab late past midnight?
A: Our Battery Hardware Team Manager, Kavish Wadhwa is the team’s night owl.
Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn to keep up with our Year 3 progress.
