According to the carmaker, there will be about 125 Ford engineers to participate in the program over the next several years.
“The era of electric vehicles is here and it’s critical that we meet this technology challenge by retraining our engineers with a broad range of new skills and competencies,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president of Global Product Development. “This program, together with internal training, will support Ford’s aggressive plans to roll out electric and hybrid vehicles in the coming years.”
Ford engineers are already working on developing three different types of electric vehicles – hybrids, plug-in hybrids and pure battery electric vehicles. The vehicles include:
- Transit Connect battery electric commercial van in 2010
- Focus battery electric passenger car in 2011
- Next-generation hybrid vehicle in 2012
- Plug-in hybrid in 2012
“The competencies achieved by these courses will enable teams from automotive OEMs and suppliers to develop the electric and hybrid vehicles that will keep the global leadership of the auto industry for this critical segment of the world’s transportation future right here in southeastern Michigan,” said Leo E. Hanifin, dean of UDM’s College of Engineering & Science.
The Advanced Electric Vehicle Program courses include:
- Introduction to Advanced Electric Vehicles
- Controls Modeling and Design for Electric Vehicles
- Energy Storage Systems
- Power Electronics for Electric Vehicles
- Electric Drives/Electromechanical Energy Conversion
- Innovation and System Architecture for Electric Vehicles
- System Engineering for Electric Vehicles
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