The Clean Technology Training Trust (CTTT) announced a strategic partnership with the University of Michigan Electric Vehicle Center (U-M EV Center) to co-design industry and labor-aligned curriculum and pre-hire/apprenticeship training pathways in medium- and heavy-duty zero emission vehicle (ZEV) systems, battery technology and ZEV fleet maintenance and repair.
Launching in April 2026, the parties expect the collaboration to build the skilled ZEV technician workforce demanded by an accelerating transition to clean fleets in public transit, freight and commercial transportation.
Through the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers’ (IBEW) long-standing engagement with the University of Michigan, anchored by programs such as the IBEW’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP) and deep collaborative ties around skills training, this new chapter expands that relationship into the emerging medium- and heavy-duty ZEV maintenance sector.
As an IBEW affiliate, CTTT is developing its ZEV Mechanic registered apprenticeship through and for the IBEW workforce, with the capacity to deploy training across nearly 300 centers throughout the U.S. The joint initiative with U-M will develop modular curriculum that supports entry into and progression through CTTT’s labor-sponsored ZEV Mechanic apprenticeship pathway as it is built.
The 2026 scope of work will include the co-development of modular ZEV and battery systems curriculum aligned to CTTT’s emerging ZEV Mechanic apprenticeship entry requirements and labor standards, integration of AR/VR-enabled instructional tools to simulate ZEV diagnostics, safety and repair in immersive learning environments and a governance framework designed for national replication across IBEW training centers.
The curriculum will feature a range of operational demands, from battery systems and drivetrain diagnostics to safety protocols for high-voltage vehicle servicing. The University of Michigan will contribute subject-matter expertise, instructional design and needs assessment capacity, while CTTT will serve as the program designer and direct delivery lead.
A 2024 Center for Automotive Research workforce needs assessment found that 82% of battery industry employers reported shortages of qualified local applicants and that employers expect hiring to increase by more than 20% between 2023 and 2026.
Domestic battery workforce demand is projected to grow six-fold by 2030. Meanwhile, U-M’s own research found that auto plants in the ramp-up stages of EV production saw assembly jobs increase as much as 10 times over ICE predecessor plants.
Transit agencies and commercial fleets across the country face binding ZEV fleet conversion mandates with insufficient technician pipelines to support them.
CTTT’s national apprenticeship development work is governed by a labor-management board and designed to meet these demands through high-road, union-supported career pathways.
The U-M Electric Vehicle Center, launched in 2023 with a $130 million state investment, brings deep research infrastructure, including the nation’s first university-based battery pilot line, and aims to engage more than 1,200 students annually across Michigan campuses and partner institutions.
Transit agencies, fleet operators and commercial carriers facing medium- and heavy-duty ZEV fleet conversion mandates are encouraged to connect with CTTT to explore workforce partnership opportunities. To learn more about employer partnership opportunities, contact [email protected] or call (202) 728-6074.
