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Preparing Technicians for
Electric Vehicle Technology
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The CAAT was pleased to bring back the annual CAAT Conference on September 30 after a two-year hiatus due to COVID restrictions. One hundred thirteen people attended the main event at Macomb Community College in Warren, MI and 46 people attended the workshop event that followed (see below).
All of the survey respondents found the conference to be helpful, with 80+% saying it had a large or very large impact on their approach to electric and automated vehicles, and the training and career paths necessary to achieve those goals.
Comments included:
- I have a better understanding of how quickly the auto industry is transitioning to EV’s.
- I will increase efforts to connect education with EV opportunities.
- I will develop relations with schools and students about future EV/AV opportunities for employment.
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Carla Bailo
ECOS Consulting
Center for Automotive Research
The Future of Electric Vehicles and e-Mobility
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Michele Economou Ureste
Workforce Intelligence Network
Rollout of the EV Jobs Academy
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Bernard Swiecki
Center for Automotive Research
Electric Vehicle Jobs Market Report
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Paul Bowser
Roush Industries
Technician Skills Gap
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Professional Development Workshop | |
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The CAAT offered a professional development workshop for automotive and technical education instructors. Forty-six people attended the workshop which consisted of three sessions and was held Friday afternoon and Saturday, with 32 people attending all three sessions. Ben Cruz, CAAT director, taught Part I of the workshop and Nelson Kelly, CAAT assistant director, taught Parts 2 and 3 of the workshop. Those who attended all three sessions were provided with a certificate of completion.
The event was well received by attendees. Overall, 80% of attendees rated the workshop as excellent, with the remaining 20% giving them a good rating, 97% said the workshop met or exceeded their expectations. Attendees found the workshop to be very useful, with 94% likely to use the material presented and the remaining 6% said they will possibly use the information. Most attendees found the course depth to be just right with 5% finding it too difficult and 4% finding it too easy.
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Friday, September 30
1:00 - 4:00pm
Electric Vehicle Workshop, Part 1
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Saturday, October 1
9:00am - 12:00pm
Electric Vehicle Workshop, Part 2
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Saturday, October 1
12:30 - 3:30pm
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems Workshop, Part 3
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CAAT Director Participates in Workforce Development Panel at the Detroit Auto Show | |
Shaping Talent and Workforce Development on The Road to Electrification | |
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Anne Pentika, talent development liaison at the State of Michigan, Ben Cruz, director of the Center for Advanced Automotive Technology at Macomb Community College, and Glenn Stevens Jr., executive director of MICHauto, gathered at the 2022 North American International Detroit Auto Show to discuss Michigan’s evolving workforce development needs on a panel hosted by the Center for Automotive Research.
The panel was moderated by Brett Smith, director of technology at Center for Automotive Research (CAR), and discussed the need for a multi-skilled technician, specifically the combination of mechanical, electrical, and IT skills. It was noted that collaboration among educational institutions and industry employers is critical, both in terms of preparing for emerging workforce needs as well as changing the perception of the career from grease-monkey to high-tech.
Another initiative striving to address the state’s workforce development needs is the EV Jobs Academy, in which MICHauto, the State of Michigan, and Macomb Community College all participate.
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The Michigan Automotive Teachers Association (MATA) held its annual fall conference on Thursday, October 27th at Macomb Community College’s South Campus in Warren, MI. Approximately 115 automotive instructors from Michigan and neighboring states attended the event. Macomb's Kurtis LaHaie, professor of automotive technology, was the event organizer along with the entire automotive technology department. Ferris State University and Macomb's Center for Advanced Automotive Technology were also pleased to support the event.
This one-day event included 11 training classes with technical content focused on electric vehicles and their high voltage batteries, electrical systems, air conditioning systems, fuel management, tire pressure monitoring systems, wheel balancing, and starting and charging systems. Educator focused sessions included accreditation tips, using online automotive curriculum, and a discussion with the Michigan Department of Education's Office of Career and Technical Education Transportation Consultant.
The event also offered a trade show, live demonstrations and many raffles for automotive education related gifts provided by many generous vendors and participating colleges. Trade show exhibitors included the ASE Education Foundation, the Margaret Dunning Foundation, Consulab, ATech Training, CDX, Electude, Snap-on, Garage Gurus, Tech World Gear Wrench, Goodheart Wilcox, iCEV, Hunter Engineering, EDI Equipment Distributors and MegaTech. Many of these vendors also generously contributed to providing the event with an array of breakfast, lunch, snack and beverage options.
Those who attended the technical training sessions received certificates for 6 ASE Education Foundation hours (formerly NATEF). New this year was the awarding of State Continuing Education Clock Hours for Michigan-based secondary school educators who attended the event.
The CAAT is working to make the 2022 MATA Conference presentations available for viewing and download so be sure to check the MATA Conference web page for updates over the next few weeks.
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MATA Symposium on Preparing Post-Secondary Automotive Programs for Vehicle Electrification | |
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This symposium on preparing post-secondary automotive programs for electric vehicles (EVs) was held for post-secondary automotive instructors on November 4 at Lansing Community College's West Campus. 25 people participated in the meeting with approximately 10 community college's from around the state being represented at the meeting. The 10 colleges were Lansing Community College, Macomb Community College, Oakland Community College, Delta College, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Southwestern Michigan College, Ferris State University, Wayne County Community College, Trenton Public Schools , and ADI Automotive College.
The symposium began with a panel discussion with representatives from Stellantis, AC Delco, the ASE Education Foundation and CAAT to help the automotive instructors attending the symposium better understand the technician skillset that will be required by industry for EV technicians as well as the status of emerging education and safety standards. Topics discussed included where will the industry be in 5-10 years, current challenges, anticipated student outcomes, balancing curriculum updates with current fleet mix of ICE versus EV/hybrids and the possibility of sharing curriculum updated for EVs.
The afternoon featured a roundtable discussion on changes community college automotive programs may need to make to address the new skillset, including but not limited to, curriculum modifications and new tools and equipment that may be needed to obtain the desired student outcomes and objectives. Among other things, the participants compared notes on what they are teaching now, what textbooks they are using, what tools and equipment they currently have, what funding exists for updating curriculum and obtaining any new tools and equipment that will be needed, the reasons for the current shortage of technicians, and how to shift the perception of the auto tech career among students, parents, counselors, and others who may still see the career as low tech and low pay.
The participants agree that the meeting was worthwhile and plan to schedule a follow up meeting in conjunction with the 2023 MATA conference.
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Michigan Celebrates Nearly $4 Billion in Electric Vehicle Investments | |
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Two transformational investments will help ensure the future of electric vehicle development in Michigan.
Our Next Energy, an innovative, Michigan company on the cutting-edge of battery technology, is building its first ever battery manufacturing campus in Van Buren Township in Wayne County. This gigafactory battery cell manufacturing campus, ONE Circle, will create over 2,000 jobs and generate $1.6 billion in capital investment.
Gotion will build its battery component manufacturing facility in Big Rapids, MI, with an investment of $2.36 billion and will create 2,350 jobs. This is the biggest economic development project ever in northern Michigan.
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Electric Vehicle Manufacturer Via Motors is Moving to Auburn Hills | |
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Electric vehicle manufacturer Via Motors is moving its headquarters from Utah to Auburn Hills, where it plans to invest $12.4 million and create 300 jobs.
The company is opening a 98,000-square-foot office and R&D tech center at 3900 Automation Ave., with the help of a $2.5 million performance-based grant from the state, according to the Michigan Economic Development Corp.
Via Motors started out converting General Motors vehicles into plug-in hybrids before manufacturing fully electric commercial vehicles.
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University of Michigan gets $11 Million Department of Energy Center for Next-Generation Battery Technology | |
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A new $10.95 million research center, led by Michigan Engineering and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, could help enable the development of advanced batteries and fuel cells for electric vehicles.
U-M and eight partner institutions from across the country will explore the use of ceramic ion conductors as replacements for the traditional liquid or polymer electrolytes in common lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and in flow cells for storing renewable energy in the grid.
Traditional lithium-ion batteries power almost everything we use, from cars to laptops. They typically use flammable liquid electrolytes to shuttle ions back and forth between the cathode and anode in a cell. In addition to greater energy density, replacing those liquid electrolytes with ceramic ion conductors has the potential for improved safety.
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Hydrogen can Accelerate Michigan's Clean Energy Transition from Fossil Fuels | |
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The Hydrogen Roadmap for the State of Michigan report, prepared by the University of Michigan’s Center for Sustainable Systems with funding from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), is a high-level assessment to help guide planning and future production, delivery, storage and end-use applications.
In addition to medium- and heavy-duty trucks, potential near-term applications of hydrogen fuel is long-distance ferries, steelmaking, glassmaking, semiconductor manufacturing and ammonia production.
Currently, 96% of hydrogen produced worldwide is made using natural gas or coal, resulting in relatively high greenhouse gas emissions. The lowest greenhouse gas emissions result from production of hydrogen via electrolysis using renewable energy.
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2022 CAAT Conference Presentations
Preparing Technicians for Electric Vehicle Technology
The 2022 CAAT Conference was held on Friday, September 30 and was attended by automotive industry representatives as well as secondary and postsecondary automotive educators, counselors, and administrators.
This resource contains the speaker presentations:
• The Future of Electric Vehicles and eMobility
Carla Bailo, President & CEO, ECOS Consulting LLC
Former President & CEO, Center for Automotive Research
• Electric Vehicle Jobs Market Report
Bernard Swiecki, Director of Research and
Automotive Communities Partnership, Center for Automotive Research
• Rollout of EV Jobs Academy
Michele Economou Ureste, Executive Director
Workforce Intelligence Network
• Technician Skills Gap
Paul Bowser, Director
Garage Service Operations
Roush Industries
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2022 CAAT Conference Recordings
Preparing Technicians for Electric Vehicle Technology
The 2022 CAAT Conference was held on Friday, September 30 and was attended by automotive industry representatives as well as secondary and postsecondary automotive educators, counselors, and administrators.
This resource contains the speaker recordings:
• The Future of Electric Vehicles and eMobility
Carla Bailo, President & CEO, ECOS Consulting LLC
Former President & CEO, Center for Automotive Research
• Electric Vehicle Jobs Market Report
Bernard Swiecki, Director of Research and
Automotive Communities Partnership, Center for Automotive Research
• Rollout of EV Jobs Academy
Michele Economou Ureste, Executive Director
Workforce Intelligence Network
• Technician Skills Gap
Paul Bowser, Director
Garage Service Operations
Roush Industries
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2022 Electric Vehicles and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems Workshop
A Professional Development Workshop was offered on Electric Vehicles and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems immediately following the 2022 CAAT Conference Friday afternoon and finishing on Saturday. Attendees at all three sessions received a certificate of completion accredited by Wayne State University.
Presentations from the workshop were:
- Electric Vehicles, Part 1 by Ben Cruz, CAAT Director
- Electric Vehicles, Part 2 by Nelson Kelly, CAAT Assistant Director
- Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, Part 3, Nelson Kelly, CAAT Assistant Director
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Connected, Automated, and Intelligent Vehicles – 2022 NACAT Presentation
CAAT Assistant Director, Nelson Kelly, presented a training session titled "Connected, Automated, and Intelligent Vehicles" at the 2022 North American Council of Automotive Teachers Conference. It covers these four questions related to the advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and the anticipated connected and automated vehicles of the near future:
- Why is there such interest in this topic?
- How does the technology work?
- What are the remaining challenges?
- How do these advances affect automotive technician education?
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EV Pro+ Standards Based Training Program
The Electrified Transportation Pro+ program provides automotive transportation service professionals and students with comprehensive training and resources supporting service and diagnostics for electrified vehicle systems.
This resource describes the training program available at Central Oregon Community College.
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WIN 2021 Annual Report
The Workforce Intelligence Network (WIN) engages with employers to develop and create workforce solutions for the changing labor market demands in Southeast Michigan. This 10th anniversary report includes a comprehensive ten-year timeline of regional training initiatives, data, and research studies.
Highlights Include:
- A lead in the collaborative for the Michigan Revolution for the Electrification of Vehicles (MiREV) State of Michigan sector. The MiREV employer-led collaborative grant application includes the largest number of partners with over 100 business, education, non-profit, government, economic development, and workforce development board partners to scale existing electric vehicle and mobility-related curriculum statewide.
- A partnership with the State of Michigan on the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Assistance Good Jobs Challenge, which would include more funding support for the MiREV training outcomes and deliverables.
- A first draft of an Apprenticeship Training Guide and final draft of a Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) High-Tech Workforce Preparation for Emerging Transportation Technologies.
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The future looks bright for sodium-ion, EV batteries, because sodium is abundant, inexpensive and safer to mine than lithium. | |
GM Energy's storage devices will provide bidirectional charging and storage so EV owners can purchase energy when it is less expensive and save it. | |
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… Harvard has granted an exclusive technology license to develop a battery that will fully charge in minutes?
Adden Energy, Inc. is developing innovative solid-state battery systems for use in future electric vehicles. The lab-scale, coin-cell prototype has achieved battery charge rates as fast as three minutes with over 10,000 cycles in a lifetime, with results published in Nature and other journals.
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… the BMW 7-Series drives itself through its own assembly?
The BMW Group said it aims to “increase the efficiency of the logistics of newly produced vehicles in plants and distribution centers,” by having partially completed vehicles “move independently within the [manufacturing plant’s] logistics zones and assembly – driverless, safe and efficient.”
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… Piedmont Lithium is bringing lithium production to Tennessee?
Over 80% of lithium hydroxide production today occurs in China. This plant is expected to more than double the domestic production of battery-grade lithium hydroxide in the US.
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… Michigan has approved digital license plates?
Michigan is now the third state where drivers can order a digital license plate for their cars. The digital plates, which are legal to use in all 50 states as well as Canada and Mexico, come with a monthly subscription fee.
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