Gamma Technologies fuels next-gen EV engineers with BattChallenge sponsorship

GT is a sponsor and will be providing its flagship simulation software, GT-SUITE, to some of the participating teams. Stellantis will be donating RAM ProMaster EVs to the competing groups. (Photo: Business Wire)

Gamma Technologies (GT), a global provider of multi-physics systems simulation software, has announced its sponsorship of the Battery Workforce Challenge (BattChallenge), a three-year collegiate competition aimed at developing engineers and technicians for the electric vehicle (EV) battery industry. 

As part of its sponsorship, GT will provide access to its simulation software suite, which global automakers use for battery design, evaluation, and optimisation.

In 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Stellantis, and the Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) launched the BattChallenge to address the growing demand for skilled workers in the EV battery sector. 

Stemming from the Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions (AVTCs), which are long-standing programs from the Department of Energy (DOE) and Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), the initiative includes Challenge X and EcoCAR.

Dimple Shah, President and CEO of Gamma Technologies, stated:

“GT is committed to aiding in the education of future engineers by sponsoring innovative programs like this. The BattChallenge allows students to work on real-world scenarios, follow industry design and development processes focused on battery design, simulation, controls development, testing, and vehicle integration.

“It provides unmatched experience and helps us ready these amazing students for success as they enter the workforce.”

GT’s Senior Manager of Electrical Applications, Joe Wimmer, participated in the recent BattChallenge spring competition and met with some of the student engineers to help them get started with GT’s tools. 

Reflecting on his own experience, Wimmer said:

“I was fortunate enough to participate in EcoCAR 2, another Advanced Vehicle Technology Competition (AVTC) while in college, where we converted a Chevrolet Malibu to have an electrified powertrain.

“That was an incredible, eye-opening experience for me, and I’m excited and grateful to be a part of another AVTC from the sponsor perspective and to help shape the future leaders of the battery industry.”

Ajay Gnanasekaran, Senior Program Director for the three-year collegiate competition, said:

"We are thrilled to have Gamma Technologies join as a sponsor for the Battery Workforce Challenge. GT’s game-changing simulation software, like GT-SUITE and GT-AutoLion, will be vital for our students to use in modeling and designing competitive lithium-ion batteries to power up Stellantis' Ram ProMaster EV. Our students are lucky to have unlimited hands-on access to such software."