Written By: Ashley Kronsell Oller
Today we cruise into Day 1 of the EcoCAR Year 3 Fall Workshop at the MathWorks headquarters in Natick, MA. The Fall Workshop marks the official start of the third year of the EV Challenge and brings together students, faculty, and industry sponsors to collaborate, learn, and prepare for the year ahead.
“As we kick off another exciting year of the EcoCAR EV Challenge, MathWorks is proud to welcome students to our lakeside campus for the Fall Workshop,” said Connell D’Souza, Manager of Education Programs Engineering. “This event offers a unique opportunity for students to engage with industry experts and enhance their engineering skills.”
Fall Workshop serves as a vital touchpoint for students to collaborate with peers and industry leaders, setting the stage for continued innovation throughout the competition.
To kick off the event, attendees heard from Austin Brown, Director of the Vehicle Technologies Office at the U.S. Department of Energy. Brown underscored the importance of government, academia, and industry collaboration to drive innovation in sustainable transportation. Following Brown, Avinash Nehemiah, Head of Product Management and Marketing – Design Automation at MathWorks, delivered remarks on the power of digital transformation in engineering and how tools like MATLAB and Simulink are driving advancements in vehicle design. Bill Cawthorne, Chief Engineer of the Ultium GEN1 Renewable Energy Storage System at General Motors, then shared insights into GM’s forward-thinking approach to electrification, providing teams with valuable industry perspectives on renewable energy and electric vehicle development.
Teams are now diving into hands-on training sessions led by industry experts across various fields, including engineering, communications, project management, and Equity in Mobility (EiM). These workshop training sessions will provide critical skills and knowledge as teams gear up for another year of innovation in sustainable transportation.
Additional activities will include a Sponsor Social Networking and Recruitment event, a fun-filled team appreciation night hosted by MathWorks, and a Satellite Media Tour where students and headline sponsors will have the opportunity to talk about the upcoming year of the EV Challenge with media from the universities’ local markets.
As we embark on three days of collaboration, hands-on training, and skill development, D’Souza emphasizes the importance of this event in shaping the future of sustainable automotive technology.
“We are committed to fostering innovation and preparing the next generation of leaders in sustainable automotive technology, says D’Souza. “Together, let’s push the boundaries of what’s possible and pave the way for a greener future.”
Stay tuned for updates from the workshop as we embark on another year of the EcoCAR EV Challenge!
