OCNews

More automotive technicians in B.C. can upgrade their skills to work on electric vehicles (EVs) through the expansion of the EV Maintenance Training program to Okanagan College and other institutions in the province.

On Monday, March 29, the B.C. Government announced $440,000 through the Province’s CleanBC Go Electric program and in partnership with Trades Training BC (TTBC); the program will be offered at Okanagan College’s Kelowna campus, College of New Caledonia’s Prince George campus and Camosun College’s Interurban campus in Victoria.

You can read more in the Province’s media release here, and watch the recorded livestream of the announcement here.

The funding will allow Okanagan College to serve as a regional hub for the Southern Interior for hybrid and EV training.

“We know from speaking with our students and with industry that there is huge interest and a real need for EV training. This funding ensures we can tool up to deliver state-of-the-art training that will help our students be in demand and get jobs. It means our students are training with the very latest technologies and training aids. So, it’s a win-win-win for our students, for Okanagan College and for employers,” said Andrew Ross, Automotive Service Technician (AST) instructor, Okanagan College, who spoke during the announcement.

Red Seal automotive technicians wanting to upgrade their skills in EV maintenance should monitor the College’s Trades and Apprenticeship webpage – okanagan.bc.ca/trades – for updates. The first intake for the new training will take place this fall.