Overview
Prof. P. Brodsky and I are co-leading the DOE EcoCAR Innovation Challenge at Mines (Spring 2026-Present) and the DOE Battery Workforce Challenge (Summer 2023-Present).
Battery Workforce Challenge (2023-Present)
- 1st place nationally in the inaugural Year 1 competition (2023-24)
- 4th place nationally in Year 2 (2024-25)
- More than a dozen technical and project management awards across both years
- Total BWC program value: $255,100 (DOE/Stellantis base grant $147K, Chevron sponsorship $20K, student travel stipends $35.6K, competition prizes $32.5K)
- Additional significant in-kind value from software (GT-Suite, Siemens), hardware (Analog Devices, Dana), and vehicle donation (Dodge RAM ProMaster Van)
EcoCAR Innovation Challenge (Fall 2026-Present)
- Awarded Spring 2026, approximately $520,000 over four years
- One of DOE’s flagship Advanced Vehicle Technology Competition programs
- Mines selected as one of a limited number of participating institutions nationwide
Impact
The program provides students with authentic engineering experience in battery technology, vehicle electrification, and systems integration. Students gain hands-on experience with industry-standard tools and processes through partnership with Stellantis and DOE national laboratories.
