AUBURN
HILLS, Mich., Nov. 1, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Participants from the Battery Workforce
Challenge collegiate competition, a public-private
partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE),
Stellantis, and Argonne National Laboratory, gathered today to hand
over the keys for 12 new 2024 Ram ProMaster electric vans.
Chris Feuell, Chrysler and Ram Brand
CEO, and Mark Champine, Stellantis
Senior Vice President, Head of North America Engineering Technical
Centers were on hand to distribute the ProMaster EV keys to
students who will design, build, test, and integrate an advanced
battery pack for the ProMaster EV vans. The 2024 Ram ProMaster EV
is designed specifically for electrification with a unibody design
that efficiently incorporates the production battery pack. Useful
as a commercial work van, this application serves as an exciting
opportunity for students to design batteries for bigger
vehicles.
Started in 2023, the Battery Workforce Challenge partners 12
North American university teams with local community colleges
selected through an elite, competitive process. Participating
students receive hands-on learning and work closely with industry
experts to tackle one of the most relevant real-world engineering
challenges facing the automotive industry.
"The Battery Workforce Challenge students continue to impress us
with their creative ideas and overall EV knowledge as we've seen
during this week's fall workshops," said Micky Bly, Stellantis senior vice president and
head of Global Propulsion Systems. "I look forward to continuing to
work with the students as they become workforce-ready EV
experts."
The 12 student engineering teams gathered in Bloomfield Hills outside of Detroit this week to continue their EV
learning journey with four days of learning and collaboration with
EV experts.
"The Battery Workforce Challenge teams will develop engineering
and manufacturing skill sets to prepare them for high-quality jobs
building the batteries of the future right here in the United States," said Jeffrey Marootian, Principal Deputy Assistant
Secretary in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
at the US Department of Energy. "The ability for the teams to
experience hands-on learning working with the Ram ProMaster EVs is
essential to the EV workforce of the future and advancing EV
transportation technologies."
The competition will end in 2026, with winning teams receiving
dozens of annual engineering and sponsor-related category awards;
$100,000 in industry-provided prize
money; and invaluable real-world experience working with industry
leaders.
Selected university and vocational partners are:
- California State University, Los
Angeles (Los Angeles,
California) and Cerritos
College (Norwalk,
California)
- Clemson University (Clemson, South Carolina) and Greenville Technical College (Greenville, South Carolina)
- Colorado School of Mines
(Golden, Colorado) and
Arapahoe Community College
(Littleton, Colorado)
- Jackson State University
(Jackson, Mississippi) and
Hinds Community College (Utica,
Mississippi)
- McMaster University and
Mohawk College (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada)
- The Ohio State University and
Columbus State Community College
(Columbus, Ohio)
- Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
and Ivy Tech Community College
(Terre Haute, Indiana)
- University of Alabama and
Shelton State Community College
(Tuscaloosa, Alabama)
- University of California, Merced
and Merced College (Merced, California)
- University of Michigan-Dearborn and
Henry Ford College (Dearborn, Michigan)
- University of Nevada, Las Vegas
(Las Vegas, Nevada) and College of
Southern Nevada (Clark County, Nevada)
- University of Waterloo
(Waterloo, Ontario, Canada) and
Lambton College: Lambton Energy
Research Centre (Sarnia, Ontario,
Canada)
About the Ram ProMaster EV
With a targeted range of up to 162 miles in-city driving, the
new Ram ProMaster EV is the brand's first available fully
electrified vehicle.
Two mission-specific configurations will be available, including
the delivery model and two cargo models. The Ram ProMaster EV cargo
model will be available in two configurations, including a 12-foot
cargo length and an extended 13-foot cargo length (both with
159-inch wheelbases).
ProMaster EV's battery is positioned under the floor in the
center of the vehicle, which maintains a flat floor while cargo
volume is unchanged from internal combustion engine vehicles.
Stellantis North America
Stellantis (NYSE: STLA) is one of the world's leading automakers
and a mobility provider. In North
America, it's best known for producing and selling vehicles
in a portfolio of iconic and award-winning brands such as Jeep®,
Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, Alfa Romeo and Fiat.
Powered by its diversity, Stellantis leads the way the region
and the world move – aspiring to become the greatest sustainable
mobility tech company, not the biggest, while creating added value
for all stakeholders as well as the communities in which it
operates.
Battery Workforce Challenge
The collegiate competition
is part of DOE's broader Battery Workforce Challenge Program, which
also includes regional training with vocational and community
colleges; STEM youth education; and an online tool for career and
technical education. The program is dedicated to cultivating a
diverse cohort of skilled engineers, technicians and workers to
propel domestic battery technology forward.
Follow the Battery Workforce Challenge on social
media:
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/battery-workforce-challenge/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/battchallenge/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BattChallenge
Follow the U.S. DOE:
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/eeregov/
Follow Stellantis:
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/Stellantis
Media Contacts:
Kimberly
DeClark, Argonne National Laboratory, kdeclark@anl.gov,
202-441-0096
Dan Reid, Stellantis,
dan.reid@stellantis.com, 248-202-7697
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SOURCE Battery Workforce Challenge