Wake Tech Community College in North Carolina is expanding its training in electric vehicle repair thanks to a grant from the National Science Foundation for Advanced Technological Education, according to a news release.
The school has received a total of $636,128, which will go toward establishing a new advanced certificate program called Curriculum Integration in Training EVs (CITE). It would be the first two-year EV technician training program in North Carolina, and will set a standard for North Carolina’s 57 other community colleges.
As part of the CITE program, Wake Tech will develop four EV courses involving hands-on work and video modules on safety; the addition of two training bays exclusively for EV and hybrid work; and professional development training for Wake Tech staff to keep them up to date with emerging technologies.
Alongside existing automotive students, the new program aims to recruit current technicians, emergency responders, and women into the program to expand its impact as far as possible.
To celebrate the occasion, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm visited the school’s Hendrick Center for Automotive Excellence in Raleigh, North Carolina, this past Friday, joined by Wake Tech officials on a tour of the school’s automotive training programs.
“As the significant growth in the EV market continues, it is critical that we support the training of highly skilled technicians to support the maintenance and repair of the increasing number of EVs in the region,” said Wake Tech President Dr. Scott Ralls.
