L-R: Dr. M R Nandgaonkar, head, Mechanical Engineering Department, COEP; Vikas Khanvelkar, MD, DesignTech Systems; Dr. Aditya Abhyankar, dean, Faculty of Engineering, SPPU; Dr. B B Ahuja, director, CoEP; Vishwanath Rao, MD, Altair India and Dr K C Vora, senior deputy director and Head, ARAI Academy.

US-based global technology company Altair has signed an MoU with the College of Engineering, Pune to set up a Centre of Excellence (CoE) on the CoEP campus. The MoU includes CoE for 20 students each from of Savitribai Phule university, Cummins College of Engineering for women and CoEP.

The MoU will enable more than 60 engineers to work simultaneously on electric mobility applications. The CoEP will conduct formal PG-diploma courses as part of the student curriculum while Altair will act as the technology partner, providing students with simulation tools and course programming focused on e-mobility.

The one year full-time PG-diploma will include courses in energy storage systems for battery management, a bridge course in electric and mechanical disciplines, vehicle dynamics and traction, sensors and controls in electric vehicles, IoT and vehicle communication followed by hands-on exposure to industrial in-plant training.

According to Dr Bharatkumar Bhagatraj Ahuja, director of CoEP, "Electric mobility has always been the first choice wherever electricity has been available for long distances in trains, for short distances in trams or subways, and even within buildings in elevators and escalators. Electric mobility is therefore a focus area in environmental, economic and social terms. We are happy to have Altair as our industry partner to drive the need of trained technical manpower for the country in this domain."

Vishwanath Rao, managing director, Altair said, "We are happy to collaborate with this prestigious institution. In line with the government push for early adoption of electric vehicles, the automotive industry is in need of talent with knowledge and skills across multiple engineering disciplines. This CoE on electric vehicles addresses this need and brings about cross-disciplinary knowledge clubbed with the latest in simulation technology used by global electric vehicle manufacturers."