UNOH Trains Educators on Hybrid Electric Vehicle Technology

Posted on Monday, August 17, 2026

Training Shop for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (1100 Building)

As the automotive landscape continues a rapid shift toward electrification, preparing the next generation of technicians is more critical than ever. Addressing this growing industry demand, a specialized in-person professional development session was recently held on Friday, July 31st, marking a vital milestone in modern automotive education.

Led by instructors Randy Pack and Steven Klausing, an engaged cohort of 11 instructors gathered to participate in the EV-AAS (Electric Vehicle Associate Degree Standards) Hybrid/Electric training course.

The 8-hour in-person class is a cornerstone component of a broader 20-hour electric vehicle associate degree standards reaccommodation grant, executed in official partnership with the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC).

With the rapid proliferation of hybrid and battery-electric vehicles on public roadways, community and technical colleges face the challenge of updating curricula to match evolving industry standards. The NAFTC grant initiative is designed to solve this by creating standardized, high-quality Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree frameworks and professional development pathways for educators.

Because working on high-voltage architecture presents entirely new challenges compared to internal combustion engines, safety served as the primary pillar of the session.

Instructors Pack and Klausing guided the attending educators through a curriculum focused on:

• Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Safety: Best practices for personal protective equipment (PPE), establishing safe vehicle perimeters, isolating high-voltage systems, and proper power-down procedures.
• Basic Fundamentals: Core electrical theories, high-voltage battery architecture, inverter/converter operations, and regenerative braking mechanics.
• Hands-On Application: Practical components allowing educators to interact directly with EV systems, ensuring they can translate these safety protocols and foundational lessons back to their respective classrooms.

By completing this 8-hour module, complemented by online prerequisites and standards coursework under the NAFTC grant, the 11 participating instructors are now better equipped to implement robust, safety-compliant EV programs at their home institutions.

As automotive programs nationwide race to adapt to an electrified future, initiatives like the EV-AAS training course led by UNOH instructors ensure that educators are thoroughly prepared to train the safe, highly skilled technicians of tomorrow.

Category: Campus & Community

Keywords: Hybrid Electric Vehicle Technology, NAFTC, Training