The National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC) has released its fall alternative fuel vehicle training schedule. These vehicles are becoming increasingly common on roadways and it is important that automotive service technicians, fleet managers, and multiple other audiences, including consumers, learn about alternative-fuel vehicles and how they impact our work or lives.

The schedule includes courses for automotive technicians, including Light-Duty Natural Gas Vehicle Training, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Vehicle Fuel System Inspector Training, and Electric Drive Vehicle Automotive Technician Training. The schedule also includes the Hydrogen, Hydrogen Vehicle, and Hydrogen Fleet Awareness Workshop. This workshop is for automotive technicians, fleet managers, municipalities, and others interested in understanding hydrogen as a fuel source.

All classes feature a combination of classroom and hands-on training and will be held at the NAFTC headquarters in Morgantown, W.V. Continuing Education Units from West Virginia University are available for all training classes.

The Light-Duty Natural Gas Vehicle Training is a three-and-a-half-day hands-on course designed for the professional technician or automotive student. The training teaches participants safety, service procedures, vehicle systems, and the nature of gaseous fuels.

CNG vehicle cylinders should be inspected every three years or 36,000 miles. In the CNG Vehicle Fuel System Inspector training, a two-day hands-on course, participants learn how to properly examine the various types of CNG cylinders and installations. After attending the CNG Vehicle Fuel System Inspector training, the participant is better prepared to take the CSA International Fuel System Inspector Certification Exam.

Often participants choose to register for both the Light-Duty Natural Gas Vehicle Training and the CNG Fuel System Inspector training together. They are commonly scheduled to be conducted within the same week.

Electric Drive Vehicle Automotive Technician Training instructs trainers, pre-service and in-service technicians, fleet managers, and other interested participants in the fundamentals, system design, diagnostic considerations, and special service topics of HEVs, BEVs, PHEVs, and FCEVs. The course covers appropriate safety measures for maintaining electric drive vehicles and describes their electric propulsion systems including construction, operation, control strategies, service tools, scan tool data, and basic diagnostic fundamentals. The Automotive Technician Training is based on an intermediate technician level and will give participants the knowledge to diagnose and repair electric drive vehicles.

The Hydrogen, Hydrogen Vehicle, and Hydrogen Fleet Awareness Workshop is a one-day workshop targeting automotive technicians, fleet managers, municipalities, and others interested in understanding hydrogen as a fuel source, the current state of hydrogen vehicle technologies, and how hydrogen applies to fleet applications. Participants will gain an introductory knowledge base of hydrogen fuel as it stands today.

A free online first responder safety training session for electric drive vehicles is also available.

NAFTC Fall Training Schedule

Light-Duty Natural Gas Vehicle Training, July 27 – 29 and October 19 – 21

Compressed Natural Gas Fuel System Inspector, July 30 – 31 and October 22 – 23

Electric Drive Vehicle Automotive Technician Training, August 17 – 21 and November 16 – 20

Hydrogen, Hydrogen Vehicle, and Hydrogen Fleet Awareness Workshop, September 22