Wayne Community College has added an electric vehicle (EV) to its automotive education program and is installing EV chargers.
The new all-electric Nissan LEAF will give students in the WCC Automotive Systems Technology program and early college trainees the opportunity to learn about the latest technology before they encounter it on the job.
“They sell a lot of these vehicles. All the big car companies, plus the start-ups, are going electric.” said Transportation Department Chairman Kevin Jordan. “It’s practical and the cost will make people want to buy them, so we have to train technicians.”
“The structure of the car is the battery,” which has its own diagnostic system, Jordan said. Under the hood, there is an electric motor, a small cooling system and not much else.
“There’s not a ton of maintenance, nothing related to an internal combustion engine,” he said. “No oil changes, no fluid changes.”
In addition to preparing automotive technicians to work with electric vehicles, the car will help dispel stigmas.
“We are trying to overcome fears and phobias. There are so many myths” surrounding the lithium-ion car battery, Jordan explained, but “a regular battery is more dangerous.”
“I’m really scared, but I’m excited to know,” admitted student Jervy Buenaventura. The exposure to this car is especially relevant to him as he works at Deacon Jones Nissan as part of his training.
The university has provided hybrid vehicles for training (a 2005 Ford Escape and a 2013 Prius) and has addressed fears of electrical shocks, fires and toxic fumes.
EV technology is different from that of a hybrid. “Some of the safety practices are the same, but this is all electric — no fuel tank, no hot systems,” Jordan said.
The solution for problems or accidents is similar to what people are advised to do with electrical appliances when they need attention: unplug them. “Depowering is a big issue. We teach them to pull the service plug. Everything stops working,” Jordan said.
“We want them to be safe but not afraid,” he said. “Like it or not, this technology is here.”
The university has acknowledged that the number of electric vehicles on its campus will also increase.
Electric vehicle charging stations are being installed outside the Ash Building that houses the university’s campus collision and auto repair programs. More stations will be placed in the parking lot on the south side of the Wayne Learning Center. Together they will provide eight ports for public charging for a minimal credit card charge.
The cost of purchasing and installing the chargers is covered by a $105,472 grant from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality.
