GOLDEN, CO – A collaborative team from Colorado School of Mines and Arapahoe Community College (ACC) has achieved significant milestones in the multi-year Battery Workforce Challenge, sponsored by global automaker Stellantis and the U.S. Department of Energy. The student team is currently engaged in electrifying a 2024 Ram ProMaster EV van, designing and integrating a custom electric vehicle battery pack, a development poised to contribute directly to the advancement of commercial electric vehicle technology and the skilled workforce required for its proliferation.

Having been named Year 1 champions and securing fourth place overall among 12 university teams from the U.S. and Canada in Year 2, the Mines/ACC team demonstrates a robust capacity for innovation and execution. The competition, now in its second year, transitioned from an initial design and planning phase to the complex manufacturing, build, and testing of the battery system. This hands-on experience is critical for students entering the rapidly evolving electric vehicle and energy storage industries.

Polina Brodsky, Teaching Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering and a faculty advisor for the team, highlighted the students' growth. "The students have not only deepened their technical skills as they moved from the design phase into prototyping this year, but also grown significantly in confidence, collaboration and leadership," Brodsky stated. "As an advisor, it’s rewarding to watch them tackle such a complex, real-world challenge and develop the kind of hands-on experience that will serve them well in the energy and automotive industries."

Despite facing challenges such as student transitions and competing against larger, more resourced institutions, the team has maintained a strong performance. Viviana Nelson, a senior in mechanical engineering and a team member, noted their comparative strength. "Relative to some of the other teams that have had a lot more years competing in these events or automotive-based sponsorships, we are still performing very well and are very strong, comparatively," Nelson said. Adam Duran, Teaching Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering and co-advisor, attributed much of their success to institutional backing. "University leadership has been exceptionally supportive of the Battery Workforce Challenge team, recognizing its alignment with our mission to deliver hands-on, industry-relevant engineering education," Duran explained.

Beyond the technical work, the team has actively engaged with the local community, participating in outreach programs like TRIO Talent Search and Dia de Ciencias. Jarev Peña, a mechanical engineering major focusing on project management, emphasized the impact of these initiatives. "The event gives them something very memorable and a different perspective of what college is all about," Peña commented, referring to a workshop and panel discussion for aspiring first-generation college students.

As the team enters the third and final year of the competition, their primary objective is to achieve full functionality of the custom battery pack within the Ram ProMaster EV van. This final phase will also emphasize team building and professional development, supported by active mentorship from alumni who have transitioned into professional roles within the automotive industry. This ongoing alumni involvement ensures critical knowledge transfer and strengthens the program's long-term impact on future engineering talent.