Roaring Fork Valley vehicle fleet technicians have a valuable opportunity this summer to learn about electric vehicle technology and safety protocols through a series of EV Tech classes offered by Colorado Mountain College.
This is the second summer for the local classes under a partnership between CMC and Littleton-based ZEV Tech Consulting (ZTC).
Last year, the program certified 80 independent EV technicians to help boost the automotive industry and improve service options for EV drivers along the Interstate 70 corridor.
This year’s classes expand that effort to area governments, school districts and transit organizations by helping them grow and maintain their fleets of electric battery powered vehicles.
ZTC made available 60 spots in classes that began in early June and continue over a five-week period, providing hands-on training that can be used in the workplace.
The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA), which runs the valleywide bus system, has a goal to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 as part of its climate action plan.
Making the switch to battery electric buses is a big part of achieving that goal, said Jamie Tatsuno, public information officer for RFTA.
Currently, RFTA has eight electric buses, representing about 6% of its bus fleet. Eleven more are due to arrive this fall, and 27% of the fleet will need to be electrified by 2030 to meet their goal, she said.
RFTA is also in the planning phase for converting part of its support vehicle fleet to EVs.
That buildup means making sure they have qualified technicians to service and maintain the vehicles, Tatsuno said.
“Having our RFTA technicians be a part of this program not only strengthens our capabilities, but also deepens the talent pipeline way into the future,” she said.
Being able to train their crew locally cuts costs, because otherwise they would have to send people to Denver or elsewhere to receive training, she added.
RFTA technician Walter Wood was among those taking the class last week at the CMC/Roaring Fork Schools Automotive Technology Center in Glenwood Springs.
“I went into it literally knowing nothing about EVs, and I’ve learned a lot more than I anticipated,” he said. “I’ve been a mechanic for well over 20 years, and this is a new experience for me.”
The curriculum guides technicians through a progression from low-voltage systems to the complexities of high-voltage battery enclosures, explained Tom Pacheco, technical director for ZTC, in a news release issued by Clean Energy Economy for the Region (CLEER).
CLEER manages Garfield Clean Energy, which supports the training program through its work with partner local governments, residents and businesses in Garfield County to become more energy efficient and tap into clean energy resources.
Also attending last week’s class was Alex Iannacchione, who works for the Aspen School District Transportation Department.
“We have four fully EV buses, and currently a lot of the work that’s done on them is warranty work, but that’s going to go away soon,” he said.
“So, we have to be qualified to work on them, because it can be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing. This class has enabled me to safely work on the high-voltage systems that power these buses.”
Paul O’Connell is an instructor for ZEV Tech from Southern California who taught the local classes last summer and is back again this year.
O’Connell emphasizes the importance of technician training to support the growing adoption of EVs.
“EV is here to stay,” he said. “But the biggest gap right now is that there was so much money to adopt EVs and put in infrastructure, but there were very little resources put toward the technician training. So that’s our focus now.”
Pacheco added: “Offering EV technician courses on the Western Slope is vital to reducing the months-long repair backlogs currently facing local fleets due to limited manufacturer service capacity.”
The five-day sessions continue in July and cost $3,750 (lunch provided). For information, or to register for one of the upcoming classes, call 720-384-6451 or email zevtechconsulting@gmail.com