EDLB is the first network of schools dedicated to the battery value chain (raw materials, production, maintenance, recycling). As the winner of France 2030’s “Skills and Jobs of the Future” call for proposals, the EDLB project launched in November 2022 for a five-year term and is led by a consortium of 15 partners headed by Verkor. With a budget of approximately 20 million euros, it aims to develop a tailored training program to train 1,600 people annually in battery-related professions (operators, technicians, engineers, researchers, and trainers). 

Addressing the challenges of the electric vehicle industry

Against the backdrop of Europe’s reindustrialization, the energy transition, and the pursuit of energy sovereignty, the French electric vehicle sector plans to produce more than 2 million electric and hybrid vehicles by 2030. This ambition is accompanied by a massive need for skilled workers in the battery industry, at every level of its value chain. The national Battery School initiative was thus launched to address this need by training at least 8,000 people by 2030, from vocational certificates to doctoral degrees. 

Through training programs specifically designed for the battery ecosystem and in close collaboration with regional and national manufacturers, EDLB is committed to: 

• to attract new talent to the field of drumming, regardless of their age or background; 
• to develop a skilled and competent workforce through a network of battery experts; 
• maintain a continuous momentum in skills development by establishing a professional network and regularly assessing the needs of companies in the sector.

Educational programs focused on expertise

The Ecole de la Batterie is integrated into Arts et Métiers a range of projects and training programs focused on industry and the energy transition: 

• The Bachelor of Science and Technology, Sustainable Design Track, at the Chambéry campus, a three-year apprenticeship program; 
• Edouard Millet’s thesis, supervised by Tatiana Reyes and Tom Bauer, aims to define a methodological framework for creating sustainable value within the “battery” value chain 
• Magui Mama’s dissertation, supervised by Sofiane Khelladi, focuses on improving the thermal management of electric vehicle batteries 
• Several course modules (lectures, lab sessions, and student projects) within the Master of Science with a specialization in EGR in Chambéry, the SYSPEC Specialized Master’s program in Lille, the Master of Science , and the third year of the ENBACA expertise program in Paris, as well as the second year of the Grande Ecole Engineering Programme the Lille campus. 

The various project partners

• VERKOR (industrial battery manufacturer): Project leader 
• Industrial: CORYS (developer of training software and simulators) 
• Training Organizations (TOs): AFPA AURA / AFPA HdF; AFPI Isère (UIMM Training Center); CNAM; CEA-INSTN; CESI; ENSAM; IMT / CCI Grenoble; GIP FIPAG; University of Lyon 1 (IUT); Grenoble INP – UGA (including: DFP: Department of Professional Training; 4 schools: Phelma, Ense3, Pagora, Industrial Engineering; 3 labs (4 doctoral students): LEPMI, LGP2, GSCOP) 
• CMQe (Campus of Trades and Qualifications of Excellence): Smart Energy Systems Campus and CMQe Auto’mobilités 
• Competitiveness Clusters: TENNERDIS; Inno (formerly EIT-InnoEnergy) 

Contacts

• VERKOR Project Manager (Project Lead): Emilie Rondet
• EDLB Arts et Métiers  Project Manager: Daniela Rodriguez
• Communications Manager, EDLB Arts et Métiers Clara Magnin
• LinkedIn page: @ecoledelabatterie 
• Website: www.ecoledelabatterie.fr 

This project receives government support under the "Skills and Jobs of the Future" call for expressions of interest (AMI) as part of the France 2030 Program, administered by the Caisse des Dépôts (La Banque des Territoires).