Savannah Tech Announces Alternative Fuel Vehicle for Auto Instruction

#1356 | April 10, 2013

SAVANNAH – In keeping with its leadership role in green technology instruction, Savannah Technical College today unveiled a 2013 Chevy Volt – the first alternative fuel vehicle in Southeast Georgia purchased exclusively for Automotive Technology instruction.

“Incorporating alternative fuel vehicle instruction in our classrooms is another example of the College’s commitment to teaching sustainable practices,” said Savannah Tech President Dr. Kathy Love. “The addition of the Chevy Volt to our Automotive Technology instructional vehicle fleet will enable our graduates to receive specialized training that will give them a competitive edge when they enter the job market.”

Love was joined in the announcement by Jane Vaden Thacher of the Vaden Automotive Group.

This alternative fuel car represents the type of technology that is poised to influence this sector of the automotive market for the next 10 to 15 years.By combining the internal combustion engine with an electric drive system and state-of-the-art battery management technology, the range of this vehicle has been extended beyond a purely gasoline engine.

“Alternative fuel vehicles and the equipment used to service these vehicles can be more expensive than others, so this type of training is often considered cost-prohibitive, despite the demand for trained technicians,” Ballard Jones, service manager for Vaden Automotive Group.“In fact, training facilities for Hybrid vehicles are limited, and the wait list could be up to nine months.”

Beginning this summer, Savannah Tech will offer specially designed training on the diagnosis and repair of these vehicles that will feature hands-on experience working with this new alternative fuel technology.The Volt also will be used in curriculum for Introduction to Automotive Technology, Electrical Systems, Brake Systems, Engine Performance, Suspension and Steering and Climate Control Systems. Job growth for the Automotive Technology industry, as reported by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), is expected to grow 17 percent during the next decade.

This vehicle was purchased locally through the Vaden Automotive Group, using grant funds awarded to Savannah Technical College.The grant’s goal is to strengthen student success across seven instructional programs (including Automotive Technology) through specialized training and the development of a sustainable technologies learning community. STC has received $500,000 in grant funds for the first two years of a five-year project from the U.S. Department of Education’s Title III Division. The College has been slated to receive a total of $1.25M for the grant.

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Media Contact:
Amy Shaffer, APR: 912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu