Battery Technician Program
Enrollment for Spring 2024 Cohort is closed.
Online and Self-paced
10 Week Program
20-30 Hours
Earn a Digital Badge and Certificate of Completion
Program Details
As the demand for mobile electrical solutions and grid integration of batteries continues to increase, the need for skilled professionals in the battery industry is growing exponentially. Whether you are brand new to batteries, or an experienced electrical engineer, this program will provide a solid conceptual foundation in batteries, storage systems, and their diverse applications.
This course empowers you to:
- Examine the electrochemical and mechanical perspectives of what a battery is and how it works.
- Evaluate battery technologies for various applications based on technical characteristics.
- Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of the currently most used battery technologies.
- Safely handle, test, repair, and dispose of battery systems, according to legal frameworks.
The online self-paced video lectures in this program are created by the InnoEnergy Skills Institute, a leading European training provider specializing in sustainable energy workforce development. Additional learning materials have been developed by the New Energy New York development team at Binghamton University.
Prerequisites
To get the most out of this program, we recommend you have a basic comprehension of:
- High school-level chemistry, physics, and mathematics
- Fundamental understanding of the principles of electricity.
Virtual Seminars
Attend live virtual seminars and Q&A sessions with prominent industry experts discussing the challenges and innovations of the battery industry. These seminars highlight relevant topics and are an excellent way to broaden your knowledge and network with like-minded individuals.
Learner Support
A battery expert facilitator will be available for email support and weekly virtual office hours, should any questions arise.
Discussion boards are available in the course to post questions and connect with other learners.
If you have any questions regarding the recommended prerequisites or need assistance in deciding if this program is right for you, email us at learn@newenergynewyork.com
The program is offered as online learning, with some hybrid in-person events you can choose to attend.
You will complete your studies online and self-paced through our online learning platform. The 10 week program goes quick, so we provide a recommended schedule to help keep you on track to successful completion. Go at the pace that works for your schedule.
2/26 – 3/3 (Week 1)
Course 1: Battery Types and Functions
- Batteries from Different Perspectives
- Classification of Batteries
- Components of a Single Cell
- Lithium-Ion Batteries
- Lead-Acid Batteries
- Flow Batteries
3/4 – 3/10 (Week 2)
Course 2: Basic Technical Battery Characteristics
- The Vocabulary of Energy Storage in Batteries
- Battery Capacity and Energy
- The Importance of Battery Testing
- Battery Definitions, Data Sheets and Characteristics
Live virtual seminar with guest speaker: Time and topic to be announced
3/11 – 3/17 (Week 3)
Course 3: Battery Modules, Packs and Systems
- Series-Parallel Connection
- Components of a Battery System
- Introduction to Battery Management Systems
- Battery Management Systems Topologies
3/18 – 3/24 (Week 4)
Course 4: Safety and Regulation
- Battery Storage Policies
- Battery Standards and Regulations
- Functional Safety and Security
Live virtual seminar with guest speaker: Time and topic to be announced
3/25 – 3/31 (Week 5)
Course 5: Energy Storage Stationary Applications
- Flexibility Needs and Role of Battery Storage
- Battery Storage Technologies
- Grid-scale Application Battery Storage
- Behind-the-Meter Application
- Benefits of Storage Facilities at Home
- Benefits and Challenges of Local Grids
- Energy Storage to Manage EV Charging
- Home Storage Part One
- Application: Home Storage Systems
- Home Storage Part Two: Demo
4/1 – 4/7 (Week 6)
Catch up on online training
Technician Labs (in-person): These are not mandatory labs. More details will be provided.
Live virtual seminar with guest speaker: Time and topic to be announced
4/8 – 4/14 (Week 7)
Course 6: Mobile and Consumer Electronics Applications
- Battery for Electric Vehicles: Price Development and Trends of Use
- Electrical Drives in Transportation: Overview of Technologies
- Charging Infrastructure
- Battery Storage Application in Mobility
- Battery-Powered Consumer Electronics
- Application: Energy Efficiency of a USB Power Bank
4/15 – 4/21 (Week 8)
Course 7: End-of-Life, Second Life and Recycling
- Dismantling a Battery Pack
- Reuse of Batteries
- EV batteries for Stationary Energy Storage
- Recycling: General Overview
- Recycling: Physical Processing
- Recycling: Hydrometallurgical Processing
4/22 – 4/28 (Week 9)
Catch up on online training
Technician Labs (in-person): These are not mandatory labs. More details will be provided.
Live virtual seminar with guest speaker: Time and topic to be announced
4/29 – 5/6 (Week 10)
Finish up online training and receive your digital badge!
Lab applications are now closed.
Experience the practical side of battery technology with our optional hands-on labs, conducted in-person at SUNY Broome throughout the program duration. While not mandatory, these labs offer valuable hands-on experience for interested participants. As space is limited, it’s essential to plan ahead if you wish to participate. To receive information about the application process for these labs, enrollment in the Battery Technician Program is required.
Lab Schedule:
All labs will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 – 8 pm at SUNY Broome campus.
Thursday, March 14
- Lab Safety and Stoichiometric Calculations: Introduction to lab safety, stoichiometric calculations and chemical reactions.
- Instructor Joel Miller.
Tuesday, March 19
- Voltaic Cells and Faraday’s Law: Review battery electrochemistry concepts and put the concepts to practice by creating basic chemical energy cells.
- Instructor Joel Miller.
Thursday, March 21
- Battery Cell Cycling & Safety: Practice charging, discharging, and testing different batteries of varying chemistries with a battery cycler. Learn how to handle batteries safely and interpret battery performance data.
- Instructor Joel Miller.
Thursday, April 11
- Battery Pack Assembly: Construct and test LiFePO4 battery packs, providing both theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary for assembling high-performance, reliable energy storage systems.
- Instructor Ken Marble.
Tuesday, April 16
- Battery Pack Disassembly: Deconstruct a pre-made battery pack down to its individual cells, with respect to safety.
- Instructor Ken Marble.
Thursday, April 18
- Solar Panel Technology: Assemble and wire a basic solar panel, battery storage, and device charging system to practice how to design and build renewable energy powered systems for home and personal use.
- Instructor Doug Chrzanowski.
Tuesday, April 30
- Electric Vehicle Charging: Discuss the advantages and challenges of electric vehicles (EV) battery charging, practice planning charge routes for longer trips with EV, and learn more about the future direction of the industry.
- Instructor Ken Spink.
This Program is suitable for both the renewable energy installers and for the (electrical) mechanics who are seeing their technology evolve from combustion engines to electric motors. Moreover, for electrical engineers or electronics specialists, a thorough knowledge of batteries is of course a future expansion of their working area. It is especially interesting for technicians with affinity in one of these domains:
- Electro-mechanics (automotive, garage, garden machines, cleaning machines, forklifts, etc.),
- Electrical installation techniques (renewable energy installer telecom, UPS, etc.)
- Electronics & power tools (sensors, signaling, security, IT, etc.)
- Small mobility (scooter, e-bike, mobility scooter)
Examples of job profiles include:
Automotive technician, Car mechanic, Chemistry technician, Electrical installation technician, Electrical Mechanic, Electrician, Lab technician, Maintenance technician, Mechanic, Power electronics technician, Process operator (e.g. from paper mills, food, chemicals, electronics, oil and gas production or smelters), PV installer, Quality technician, Unemployed person with knowledge of the basic principles of electricity (e.g. relevant VET education) that would like to work as a battery technician.
Completing this program can earn you the Battery Technician Badge, a verifiable microcredential endorsed by Binghamton University.
Microcredentials demonstrate your commitment to learning and growing your skills, and can lead to increased job opportunities and career advancement. Earning a credential shows that you are committed to developing your skills and knowledge.
Share your digital badges on social media to show off commitment to learning!