A growing High Desert population and an increase in hybrid vehicles establish the groundwork for a new 13-credit certificate program at Victor Valley College beginning in Spring 2018.

The College hopes that the program will serve as the basis for a new career pathway that will allow students to make a living wage in an area that’s still reeling from the Great Recession. The automotive industry is one of the few industries growing in the High Desert region, and will continue to expand as consumers shift toward more environmentally friendly vehicles and face longer commutes. Read More →

Funds used to support a new course for the Alternative Fuel Vehicles Certificate

Recently awarded ATRE-CEC funds will be used to support a new course that’s required for the Alternative Fuel Vehicles Certificate at Copper Mountain College (CMC). CMC will provide additional funding to further support the effort. Read More →

The Toyota Mirai’s popularity extended to College of the Desert in Palm Desert.

Douglas Redman, Associate Professor of Automotive/Advanced Transportation, used CEC funds to purchase a Mirai as well as PicoScopes, which are advanced diagnostic tools.

Redman said there’s still a stigma in the industry of auto shops and garages not wanting to service hybrids or alternative fuel vehicles because of safety issues and they are too complex.

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The Toyota Mirai is the centerpiece of CEC funding for American River College in Sacramento.

Ben French, Co-Chair of the college’s Automotive Technology Program, completed a training course in January that allowed him to update the college’s curriculum throughout the rest of the semester.

“The highlight of the class was a complete removal and reinstallation of the high pressure hydrogen storage tanks using Toyota specialty tools,” French said. “This course provided me with invaluable information that I am using to shape the future curriculum and equipment needs of the American River College AFV Training Program.”

New classes in the works include Electric Vehicle Construction, Diagnosis, and Repair, and Advanced Hybrid and EV Technology.

The college also plans to install a CNG fueling station and has already submitted a requisition for the purchase.

San Diego Miramar funding is focused on research and learning in the area of Clean Natural Gas (CNG).

The need for workers skilled in servicing natural gas vehicles will continue to grow as their use in the San Diego area increases. This applies to fleets such as San Diego Transit buses, Waste Management of San Diego trucks, and even new ships being built in the region by General Dynamics Nassco.

Training is needed for new students and existing workers who need ongoing skill development to maintain their jobs.

CEC funding has already enabled Miramar to purchase five ISL G training engines and special tooling to be used in its CNG engine overhaul course.

“The engine overhaul course teaches the student-technician the critical thinking, and manipulative skills that technicians need to be employed in the medium duty CNG service industry,” said Daniel Willkie, Professor of Diesel Technology.

The college plans to launch its natural gas technology training program with a cohort of 20 students this fall and complete a curriculum change by Fall 2018 that will allow for a dedicated focus on natural gas technology.
The college also , which will provide more opportunity to workers who are seeking to enhance their skills to obtain a new job or advance in their existing positions.

Upgrade Equipment for the Graduating Class in the Alternative Fuels and Electric/Fuel Cell Vehicle Technology Programs

Rio Hondo College in Whittier has used funding to upgrade equipment for its graduating class in the Alternative Fuels and Electric/Fuel Cell Vehicle Technology programs. Seventeen students are graduating this year and 30 are continuing on in the two Alternative Fuels A.S. programs. Nearly all graduates received multiple job offers, according to Professor John Frala. Read More →

At the Forefront of Alternative Vehicle Technology for the Last Decade

The San Francisco Bay Area has been at the forefront of alternative vehicle technology for the last decade, with City College of San Francisco (CCSF) preparing students to work for some of the world’s top automotive companies.

In fact, Tesla recently hired seven CCSF students trained in electric vehicle technology and plans to continue to hire through CCSF. City CarShare, a San Francisco-based enterprise that maintains a fleet of more than 400 vehicles including hybrids and EVs, also hires CCSF students trained in AFV technologies. Read More →

Congratulations to the Following Colleges:

The newly-awarded colleges originally applied for the funding in August, 2016 and will now be able to carry out their plans to train students, create curriculum, purchase equipment, and educate faculty on the latest industry technologies.

Automotive Partnerships with Major Players

The Cypress College Advanced Transportation Center’s partnerships within the automotive industry have evolved over the past 15 years to include major players, such as Toyota and now Tesla Motors. In fact, the Cypress College electric vehicle training program is placing students and entry level technicians at participating Toyota and Tesla repair centers in the Orange County area. Read More →

Location Makes Bakersfield California a Prime Location to Add Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations

Sitting at the bottom of California’s Central Valley, Bakersfield provides a central location to San Francisco, Sacramento, San Diego and Las Vegas. From Bakersfield, travelers can be in any of these cities in around four hours, about 250 miles of travel, and in Los Angeles in about half the time.
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