Washtenaw Community College (WCC) has opened a new electric vehicle (EV) and battery laboratory designed to train students for the next generation of automotive and mobility careers. The facility, unveiled at a ribbon-cutting event this week, expands the college’s Advanced Transportation Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Washtenaw Community College President Dr. Rose B. Bellanca addresses a crowd at the ribbon-cutting ceremony of its new EV and battery lab.
Equipped with lifts, charging stations, and battery workbenches, the new lab will support hands-on training in hybrid and EV maintenance, repair, and diagnostics. The program was funded in part by a $2.5 million federal appropriation secured by Michigan’s congressional delegation in 2023.
College leaders said the lab will help address the growing demand for skilled technicians in the EV and battery manufacturing sectors.
The project received bipartisan support from lawmakers including US Representative Debbie Dingell and US Senator Gary Peters, who emphasized the importance of workforce training in maintaining Michigan’s leadership in automotive innovation and electrification.
Established in 2014, WCC’s Advanced Transportation Center integrates automotive, information technology, and advanced manufacturing disciplines. It currently trains more than 1,000 students across more than 60 courses in areas such as:
- Electric vehicles, batteries, charging infrastructure, and transportation technologies
- Semiconductor manufacturing
- Mechatronics and industrial electronics
- Cybersecurity and data analytics
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Artificial and business intelligence
Washtenaw Community College serves as a key workforce development partner in Michigan’s mobility ecosystem, preparing students for careers in electrification and advanced transportation.
Filed Under: Technology News