One of the Top Hybrid Markets in the Nation

The San Francisco Bay Area has been listed among the top hybrid markets in the nation, with a visible increase in alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) on the roadways including passenger cars, commercial fleet vehicles and buses. With ride sharing on the rise, companies are now partnering with automotive manufacturers to provide alternative fuel and autonomous vehicles, which will add to the number of AFVs on the road, and technicians needed in the shops.
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Los Angeles Currently Comprises One Quarter of All EV Sales

California continues to lead the nation in the deployment of alternative fueled vehicles (AFV), particularly in hybrid and Electric Vehicle (EV) models. The state’s stringent restrictions on fuel emissions and the related incentives for consumers to purchase AFV models has been particularly successful in the greater Los Angeles and Orange County region. In fact, Los Angeles currently comprises one quarter of all EV sales in the United States. Read More →

A More Technically Educated Workforce Becomes Critical

As State governments work to implement the ZERO emissions regulations over the next several years, a more technically educated workforce becomes critical. This is particularly evident in California where the Zero Emission Vehicle regulation (ZEV) requires that 1.4 million alternative fuel vehicles be sold by 2025. The Department of Energy is also adding the fuel cell technology and electric bus to the ZERO Emissions list which requires a new type of technician. Read More →

The Need for Training in CNG and RNG Technologies is Growing in the Greater Sacramento Area

New filling stations are opening and local fleets are purchasing vehicles equipped with this technology which requires specific training for employees.

ARC student working on a hydrogen fuel cells car.

As the only community college in the area providing this instruction, American River College (ARC) will utilize funding awarded by the California Energy Commission to enhance its ability to provide well-trained students for local employers. These include large fleet managers like Sacramento Regional Transit and the County of Sacramento.

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A Focus on Natural Gas Engine Technology: San Diego Miramar College

The projected demand for the use of natural gas as an alternative fuel continues to rise, especially in the San Diego region. The city is increasingly incorporating the use of natural gas to replace diesel fuel in their heavy duty vehicles. Even the new ships being built in San Diego by General Dynamics Nassco use natural gas engine technology, as do many other vehicle fleets in the region.

The funding awarded to San Diego Miramar College ($192,308) will be used to address this demand by improvements made in the college’s delivery of natural gas engine technical training.

The first step will be to purchase five compressed natural gas (CNG) heavy duty engines, then hold faculty professional development trainings on the new technology. Once the engines and related materials are integrated as lab teaching components, faculty will be able to teach a cohort of students on natural gas engine technology.

New curriculum will be written to expand the dedicated focus on natural gas engine technology, with the existing course to include fuel management and engine performance components of natural gas technology. This new course will allow for the expansion of the evening certificate of achievement into an evening degree program dedicated to natural gas engine technology.

Training Students, Faculty, and Creating Partnerships: College of the Desert

The $191,920 awarded to College of the Desert (COD) is very timely, especially in light of policies that will soon require a 50% reduction in emissions from heavy-duty diesel trucks, off-road mobile equipment, cars and other vehicles.

Public school districts in the region are also adopting clean fuel alternatives in their school bus fleets. And five separate incentive and grant funding programs will be administered by the South Coast Air Quality Management District in the region to encourage the transition to lower emission engines in medium to heavy-duty vehicles. Read More →