ELECTRIC VEHICLE PROGRAM IN WORKS FOR CNC

Automotive technicians will be able to turn to the College of New Caledonia to learn how to work on what looks to be the wave of the transportation future.

The college, along with Camosun College in Victoria and Okanagan College in Kelowna, will each get a share of $440,000 from the province to teach technicians the ins and outs of electronic vehicles.

Instructor Ken Rowell said the program should be up and running this fall and will start small with about a half dozen students as all the bells and whistles are put into place.

“Tonnes of equipment to buy, tonnes of training aids, all of that,” Rowell said.

By 2040, all new light-duty cars and trucks sold in B.C. must be zero-emission vehicles. The program will be open to technicians who have already achieved their Red Seal designations.

“EV cars are coming on so fast and strong that there is a need to train already-trained people on them,” Rowell said.

He said the Lower Mainland is now “covered” in electric cars and that it’s only a matter of time before they grow in numbers up this way as the technology improves and makes them a realistic option for longer trips.

“When they start going to the 800 volt which are in development and probably (will be available) in the next year or so, you’re cutting your charging times down in half,” Rowell said. “And so if you can charge it up in half an hour and go another 500 clicks, I don’t think people in the North are that concerned then.”

He suggested EVs might not be much of a jump for those who’ve made a living working on vehicles that run on internal combustion.

“The difference is in the high voltage system and some of the safety around them,” Rowell said. “And also the three-phase power. We’re a trade of 12-volt DC and now we’re dealing with 4-800-volt AC motors and in that, there are some changes that have to be taught.”

Start dates and other details will be posted on the CNC website once they’ve been set.