DAYTON, Ohio — While students will be heading back to class in a few short weeks, at one Ohio community college, instructors from across the country are getting in some special lessons before school starts.
Sinclair Community College in Dayton was given a $600,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to develop the electric vehicle training program and curriculum.
Across the country and in Ohio especially, there is a lot of talk about electric vehicle manufacturing and production. While the future is certainly exciting, more people will be needed who know how to fix them, and that’s where the workshop comes into play.
“Basically we’re talking about heat pumps, and the heat pumps are down low on the vehicle we’re demonstrating right here,” said Chris Holley.
Holley is an automotive instructor at Pennsylvania College of Technology.
He’s been working with cars and teaching for nearly 30 years.
The college has had an EV program for 12 years, but it’s heating up.
“Last year was our first full year of EV lab class so it’s a little bit new,” Holley said.
To make sure he’s up to speed, he and more than 20 other instructors from across the country have made their way to Sinclair Community College in Dayton.
“They come here from New Mexico, California, Texas,” said Justin Morgan, the college’s chairperson of automotive technology.
The instructors are learning all about safety protocols with high voltage systems, HVAC, battery removal, and everything in-between.
“So if you’ve been an internal combustion engineer technician for the past 30 years, this is going to be new to you,” Morgan said.
A lot of the EV equipment and tools are new, and the technology is evolving.
“A lot of people ask ‘are they more complex'? Morgan said. "In some cases they are, but if you know hybrid vehicles, they actually simplify it a little bit because you’re talking about one less system."
While this workshop is only three and a half days, the knowledge gained can last well into the future.
“What we’re looking for is for these technicians to go back into their regions and communities and basically help their technicians that are going out into the shops as well,” Morgan said.
As for Holley, he’ll head back to class with insight to share.
“As long as we are ahead of the curve, I think we’ll do very well. We don’t know where it’s going to end up, but we’re waiting to see,” Holley said.
Sinclair Community College hosted a workshop like this last year and will host another one in 2025.
Money from the National Science Foundation grant will also help the college recruit students from underrepresented groups for automotive summer camps to boost an interest in the field.