The Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology at The University of the West Indies (The UWI) Mona Campus hosted a week-long E-Mobility Workshop from January 12–16, 2026, bringing together engineers, technicians, and energy professionals from across the Caribbean to gain hands-on experience assembling battery electric vehicles. The workshop was a key precursor to the official opening of UWI’s new E-Mobility Laboratory on January 20, which provides a dedicated space for practical training and research in sustainable transport technologies.

 

Led by Professor Tannecia Stephenson (Deputy Dean) and Dr. Louis-Ray Harris (Senior Lecturer), the workshop guided participants through the step-by-step assembly of a battery electric vehicle from chassis construction and motor installation to battery wiring and system integration. Local participants, including Dr. Tanya Kerr, Dudley Williams, Kevaughn Williams, and André Cunningham, worked alongside regional representatives from Belize, St. Kitts, Grenada, Antigua, and St. Lucia, fostering cross-island collaboration and knowledge-sharing.

 

“The goal of the workshop was to bridge theory and practice,” said Professor Stephenson. “Participants left with the skills to assemble and troubleshoot electric vehicles, which is crucial for building capacity in the Caribbean’s growing green transport sector.”

 

The newly established E-Mobility Laboratory, launched officially on January 20, provides the infrastructure to support such training, offering specialized equipment, software, and teaching resources for both students and professionals. While the lab represents a long-term investment in regional electric mobility, this workshop highlighted its immediate impact by giving attendees the opportunity to engage directly with BEV technology.

 

The E-Mobility lab was established through collaboration among the Department of Physics, the JPS Foundation and the German Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMUKN) through the International Climate Initiative (IKI).