CMU Tech Ignites new Electrical Vehicle Maintenance Training
On June 17, CMU Tech’s Transportation Services program hosted an electric vehicle (EV) training course, led by a master trainer from Automotive Video Innovations. This hands-on workshop represents the next step in CMU Tech’s ongoing effort to meet the evolving demands of the modern workforce.
As demand for EVs continues to surge, the automotive industry is undergoing a dramatic shift, one that requires a new set of skills from today’s mechanics. CMU Tech has answered the call by adding a new vehicle to its training fleet: a Nissan Leaf. This EV training vehicle is part of a broader strategy to ensure students gain experience with both traditional and modern automotive systems.
All transportation and automotive mechanic students at CMU Tech already receive extensive training on internal combustion engines (ICE), from standard sedans to commercial trucks. But EVs pose a different kind of challenge. They require less routine maintenance but introduce students to high-voltage systems, complex battery structures and fewer moving parts, which means diagnostics often become a process of precise problem-solving.
The training session with Automotive Video Innovations drew a diverse group of participants, including Technical Instructor of Transportation Services Michael Carsten and Technical Instructor of Diesel Transportation Services Paul Hoerr, current and former CMU Tech students, and professionals from Mesa County and Century Equipment. Among the group was Isaiah Solomon, a CMU Tech alumnus, Life in the Trades feature and founder of Jr. Mobile Mechanics. His attendance embodied how CMU Tech’s educational resources extend well past graduation.
“As an Automotive Service Excellence teaching center, our instructors are required to serve our students with the highest quality education so that when they complete their technical certificates, AAS degrees or industrial certificates, the student will enter the workforce with the confidence needed to diagnose and repair today’s vehicles. Our instructors must pursue ongoing training and professional development that meets the level of excellence needed to send our students well-prepared to succeed in the workforce,” said Technical Instructor of Transportation Services Michael Carsten, who helped organize the training session.
EV maintenance training is part of a broader investment in future-focused education. Thanks to a generous donation from community member Karen Combs, a Chevy Volt is also a part of CMU Tech’s resources for EV maintenance training. Combs felt inspired to donate her beloved vehicle to CMU Tech after visiting a homeless shelter in California, where the director informed her of their unique need for transportation vehicles. Wanting to keep the car in local hands, Combs made her donation to the CMU Tech Transportation Services program at the perfect time.
“I was thrilled to find a good home for my treasured car and, as it turns out, the timing could not have been better for the start of CMU's training on electric vehicles.” Combs shared.
Together, the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt will help students fine-tune their understanding of electric vehicles, machines that require innovation, adaptability and sharp mechanical minds.
With this new curriculum, CMU Tech continues to position itself as a leader in workforce-driven education, preparing students and professionals alike for success in a rapidly changing automotive world.