City College of San Francisco’s Auto Program is Linking Traditional Auto Instruction with Emerging Internet-Based Auto Businesses
CCSF Auto 57 students and one of their City Car Share loaners
This process started when Nick Rothman was recently appointed a faculty member of the City College of San Francisco (CCSF) Automotive program. Prior to arriving at City College he co-founded Pat’s Garage, an auto repair shop specializing in hybrid and electric vehicle service, and the business Green Gears. He also assisted area businesses in maintaining their Hybrid and EV fleets, including the City Car Share program.
City Car Share Loans Vehicles to CCSF
At CCSF, Rothman teaches Auto 57: Introduction to Hybrid Vehicle Maintenance, which focuses on the principles and functions of Hybrid and Electric vehicles. During Fall 2015 semester, Rothman asked City Car Share if he could use a few of their plug-in vehicles for his class, enabling students to see the inner workings of these vehicles while checking out the technological differences of the models. City Car Share loaned him their Ford C-MAX Energi Plug-in Hybrid and all-electric Nissan Leaf.
Relationship with City Car Share Leads to Jobs for Students
This loaner relationship gave rise to a broader conversation as to how City Car Share maintains its fleet so that cars are client-ready at all times. CCSF provided a couple interns to City Car Share to travel about the City of San Francisco, providing regular inspections of fleet cars. This improved the client-readiness of City Car Share’s fleet, while providing students opportunities to demonstrate workplace skills and responsibilities, easing their search for employment upon completing the program.
Rothman has commented, “Placement is a huge part of the class. We focus on what is out there now and we keep it real world.” Indeed, City Car Share has since hired five of the program’s completers as part of their fleet maintenance team.
Additional Partnerships on the Horizon
Recognizing that City Car Share’s requirements are not unique, Rothman is negotiating with ZipCar and Shift (an emerging internet-based used car search service) to provide students to inspect their vehicles. More broadly, Rothman and his students recognize that a skilled maintenance workforce that can support both new types of businesses as well as new-technology vehicles is a key component of our nation’s future transportation infrastructure.
