Over the summer, Copper Mountain College Automotive Technology Instructor Paul Friedt traveled across the country to attend the six-day “Up Your Voltage” training course on hybrid vehicles in Seekonk, Massachusetts.
The training, organized by the Automotive Career Development Center (ACDC), is described as an “immersive boot camp.” It was limited to 16 participants and included the opportunity to work with 10 different hybrid and electric vehicles models ranging from the Chevrolet Volt to the Toyota Highlander.
Beyond the six days of hands-on training, the program included 22 hours of prework and the opportunity to earn the “ACDC Master Hybrid Technician” certificate upon completion of the on-site program. Not only did participants learn how to complete repairs themselves, they also learned how to teach others those skills.
ACDC Founder and CEO Craig Van Batenburg, is known for taking complex topics and making them easy to understand. His training courses have attracted auto technicians and automotive instructors from around the world.
The California Energy Commission provided funding to cover Freidt’s participation in “Up Your Voltage.” That investment is paying off, as Friedt is already passing along what he learned at the training to his students at Copper Mountain.
“This training provided an enhanced in-depth general knowledge of hybrid and electric vehicle technology as well as detailed hands-on training with several specific vehicles,” Friedt said. “The knowledge gained and the practical experience acquired during this training will allow me to be more uniquely qualified to provide future CMC automotive students with more comprehensive and effective instruction in this area.”
