J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College is pacing the automotive technology field educating students on the car of tomorrow that doesn't use gasoline and doesn't pollute the air. In fact, this vehicle produces steam instead of exhaust - what's the mystery fuel? Hydrogen -- the simplest and most abundant element in the universe.
And while some people think that in 20 years we'll all be driving hydrogen-powered vehicles, JSRCC’s Automotive Technology program is currently filling today and the future’s need for cutting edge technology educated technicians who are equipped to perform both mechanical and diagnostic repairs.
This fall Reynolds will offer a four credit course titled Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles which covers hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle systems and advanced automotive electronics. Focusing on safety, the course teaches theory, function, and operation of fuel cell electric vehicles and provides students an opportunity to perform diagnostic procedures and maintenance for fuel cell electric vehicle systems - the course is part of the nation’s first distance-based Advanced Electric Drive Vehicle Career Studies Certificate program. When students graduate, they will be qualified to service electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and fuel cell electric vehicles that provide for increased energy efficiency and employ “green” technologies.
Developed with funding provided by a grant from the Department of Energy, the Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle course addresses the rapidly emerging automotive technologies of fuel cell power generation systems found in electric drive vehicles, which automotive technicians are now being required to service.
To enhance hands-on learning opportunities, JSRCC faculty members this past year partnered with Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering to design, fabricate and install a functioning hydrogen fuel cell system onto an electric golf cart. The completed prototype benefits students in the automotive labs at the JSRCC Goochland Campus where they will be able to dissect and diagnose the system for academic purposes for the next 10 years. Several hydrogen cars are now in existence, but most of them are concept cars. These eco-friendly driving machines include the Chevrolet Equinox, the BMW 745h and the Honda FCX that's currently available for lease in California.
School of Business Assistant Dean Chuck Swaim noted, “The opportunity for our faculty and students to collaborate with VCU and our alumni at VCU was a win-win for our institutions. Working on future technologies allows JSRCC to stay ahead of the instructional needs of our students and future workforce. We are hopeful that this year’s collaboration between our Automotive Technologies program and VCU’s Senior Engineering Projects is just the beginning of a long string of successes for our students and faculty.”
Where automotive repair may not have been considered high-tech some years ago, today much has changed. High school grads can no longer start their automotive repair career as a shop sweeper who works their way up to mechanic. Sophisticated electronic computer systems now control an ever-increasing number of functions in our vehicles resulting in an ever-growing demand for educated technicians who can quickly and accurately service them. Recent high school graduates who like computers and technology, problem-solving, cars and working with their hands are good candidates for a career in automotive technology. Unlike many high-tech careers that require four or more years of college, automotive technology careers can begin after just two years of college.
