Automotive technicians in Prince George can upgrade their skills to work on electric vehicles (EVs) through the EV Maintenance Training program offered at the College of New Caledonia (CNC).

As more EVs get on the road in B.C., demand for EV maintenance jobs will continue to increase.

“We’re supporting the growing popularity of EVs by helping auto technicians develop the skills they need to work on EVs in service centres across B.C.,” said Bruce Ralston, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation. “The expansion of the EV Maintenance Training program will help grow our EV sector and make it even easier for British Columbians to make the switch to an EV, putting us on the road to a cleaner, better future.”

With $440,000 through the Province’s CleanBC Go Electric program and in partnership with Trades Training BC, the program will be offered at CNC’s Prince George campus, Okanagan College’s Kelowna campus and Camosun College’s Interurban campus in Victoria.

The British Columbia Institute of Technology’s Burnaby campus initially launched the program in 2019 to provide Red Seal automotive technicians with the skills they need to work on EVs. This program expansion will prepare British Columbians for good-paying jobs of the future and post-pandemic economic recovery.

“This program will help more people in the North build the skills we need for the economy we need – a greener, cleaner economy for rural B.C.,” said Nathan Cullen, MLA for Stikine. “It’s a great opportunity for our communities to pitch in and support B.C.’s goals for a cleaner future.”

Red Seal automotive technicians wanting to upgrade their skills in EV maintenance should check each college’s website for course details. Pilot training will begin in fall 2021.

“The automotive industry is rapidly changing as electric vehicles become more commonplace on roads,” said Frank Rossi, dean of trades and technologies, CNC. “We’re thankful for this investment prioritizing student knowledge towards the maintenance of electric vehicles, which will further their success in the new industry that awaits them. CNC is also thankful to local employers and industry partners it is partnering with to help deliver this vital training.”

This increased investment in EV training aligns with the Province’s StrongerBC: BC’s Economic Recovery Plan, which protects people’s health and livelihoods while supporting B.C. businesses and communities.

Quick Facts:

• The Zero-Emission Vehicle Act, passed on May 30, 2019, requires all new light-duty cars and trucks sold in B.C. to be zero-emission vehicles by 2040.
• Trades Training BC is a consortium of 15 B.C. public post-secondary educational institutions created to promote trades training in British Columbia. Its primary function is to encourage students and others considering career retraining to explore trades as a viable career option.

Learn More:

To learn more about the initial BCIT EV training program, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2019EMPR0113-002331

To learn more about the College of New Caledonia, visit: https://cnc.bc.ca/

To learn more about Trades Training BC, visit: https://www.tradestrainingbc.ca/

To learn more about the suite of CleanBC Go Electric programming, visit:
www.gov.bc.ca/zeroemissionvehicles

To learn more about the CleanBC plan, visit: https://cleanbc.gov.bc.ca/