Jackson State University in Mississippi has been chosen to participate in the Battery Workforce Challenge Program, established in October 2023 by the United States Department of Energy in partnership with Stellantis, a global automotive manufacturer. Of the 12 schools selected to join the competition, Jackson State University is the only historically Black institution.
The Battery Workforce Challenge Program was created to inspire the next generation of domestic workers by providing them with hands-on experience and knowledge needed to succeed in the electric vehicle and automotive battery industry. The three-year competition will require a team of students from each participating university to design, build, test, and integrate their own advanced electric vehicle battery into a Stellantis vehicle. As part of their project, the Jackson State University team will partner with the automotive program at Hinds Community College in Utica, Mississippi.
James Ejiwale, associate professor in the Jackson State University department of civil and environmental engineering and industrial systems and technology, will serve as the faculty advisor for the program at Jackson State University. He says, “It’s a privilege to steer this new technological innovation that is coming and to ensure that our students partake in this important workforce development experience.”
