Powering innovation: Eaton’s impacting the Cal State LA & Cerritos College team’s performance in the BattChallenge 

By Madison Reddy / Cal State LA

Innovation, sustainability and the future of energy are at the heart of Eaton’s mission. Eaton’s sponsorship of the Charging Eagles in the Battery Workforce Challenge is proof of its commitment to driving change. 

As a global leader in intelligent power management, Eaton is not only revolutionizing energy solutions but also investing in the next generation of engineers. Through Eaton’s Breaktor technology and hands-on mentorship, the company is providing our Cal State LA & Cerritos College team with the tools and expertise needed to design, build and test a battery system for a Stellantis vehicle.

Jeff Smith, left, Eaton's technical program leader, and Raymond Tran, Cal State LA & Cerritos College BattChallenge team's Hardware Team lead, examin the Breaktors during the Year Two Fall Workshop's sponsor social held at The Kingsley Inn Hotel in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. on Oct. 31.

Eaton has provided our team with three Breaktors, essential components in our battery-disconnect unit. Combining the functions of a fuse and circuit breaker, the Breaktor enhances both safety and efficiency in high-voltage battery systems. This technology allows our team to optimize power distribution while ensuring system protection from electrical faults. The team has been working hard designing and testing the BDU to ensure the Breaktors perform flawlessly within our application. 

Eaton’s partnership with our team extends beyond providing technology. Eaton engineers have offered invaluable mentorship, helping our team troubleshoot challenges and refine our designs.  

During the 2024 fall workshop in Detroit, Eaton representatives reviewed our team’s progress and shared insights into best practices for integrating the Breaktor. This guidance equips our students with problem-solving skills and industry knowledge essential for our future careers, fueling our success, and shaping future industry leaders. 

The Battery Workforce Challenge is about more than building batteries — it’s about building the future. Eaton’s commitment to innovation and education is empowering the Cal State LA &  

Cerritos College team to break barriers in energy technology. By providing access to advanced tools and industry mentorship, Eaton is preparing our students to become leaders in the transition to energy solutions. 

Stay connected with the Cal State LA and Cerritos College team as we push the boundaries of energy innovation. Follow the team’s journey on Instagram and explore how you can support the Battery Workforce Challenge by visiting our website. 

Eaton staffers interact with students during the BattChallenge's Year Two Fall Workshop held at The Kingsley Inn Hotel in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. on Oct. 31. They include (from left): Lindsey Pilato, program management leader; Michael Froehlich, vice president of engineering and mobility; Patrick Larochelle, head of global applications engineering; Jacob Huang, senior mechanical engineer; and Jeff Smith, technical program leader. Also pictured is Cal State LA & Cerritos College hardware team lead Raymond Tran (right).

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