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.
Students Attend Meetings with Leaders in the Alternative Fuel Industry
In addition to buying equipment, CEC funding also allowed students to attend meetings with leaders in the alternative fuel industry. Frala took a group to visit the hydrogen fueling station at California State University Los Angeles to learn about renewable energy resources.
“The tour was from the engineering point of view and went into the details of electrolysis from a green source, how the different stages of compression happen and why, and how the temperatures are controlled to the -20C before the final drop at the fill station nozzle to -54C,” Frala said.
Students also toured the South Coast Air Quality Management facility and laboratories.
While there, they saw the testing laboratory and equipment used to detect unseen particulate matter that comes from combustion. They also toured a compressed natural gas station and observed a Toyota Mirai being filled with hydrogen fuel.
Following the tours students wrote a research paper comparing the different types of fueling methods and technologies they observed.
CEC funds are also being used to build a high voltage safety course and lab that will provide hands-on simulation of battery energy storage and management.
