Cerritos College-CSULA student team competes in Battery Workforce Challenge
In May, automotive and mechanical engineering students traveled to Detroit, Michigan,
for the final year of the Battery Workforce Challenge, collaborating with California
State University, Los Angeles. They designed and integrated an advanced EV battery
pack into a 2024 Ram ProMaster EV using a gated approach reminiscent of video game
levels.
The experience provided participating students with a valuable opportunity for hands-on work focused on engineering, teamwork, and real-world problem solving. For student Luis Romo, it was an unforgettable experience that strengthened his confidence and passion for engineering.
“The Battery Workforce Challenge and the Detroit trip gave me a deeper understanding of how technical and leadership skills converge in real-world engineering projects. From learning to simulate fluids in SolidWorks to participating in the Project Management Assessment Center, I saw firsthand how teamwork and adaptability drive success under pressure.”
Caleb Temblador valued the chance to meet and connect with like-minded engineering students from universities across the US and Canada, including Alabama State, Waterloo, and Colorado School of Mines. “I learned that hard work is both rewarding and recognized, and that keeping an open mind to ideas, especially in engineering, is crucial for project success.”
The competition, co-headlined by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Stellantis, involved design reviews and safety training from Mopar trainers, ensuring thorough inspections and testing in a Stellantis battery lab. Over three years, twelve universities and vocational schools participated, allowing teams to apply engineering concepts in a real-world setting while honing technical, communication, and collaboration skills with industry professionals.