The Electrified Mobility Certification program involves a hands-on lab combined with on-line training modules to provide a comprehensive understanding of hybrid and battery electric vehicles.
Electric mobility is the fastest growing segment in new vehicle sales and Schoolcraft College is positioning itself to be at the forefront of educating our workforce in this space with ~~~~its newest non-credit program.
Schoolcraft College launched The Electrified Mobility Certification program in Dec. 2024. The first participants in the program are a team of experienced technicians from Roush Industries in an apprenticeship program supported by SEMCA Michigan Works. The program utilizes a four-week hands-on lab combined with on-line training modules to provide a comprehensive understanding of hybrid and battery electric vehicles.
Jerry Lickey, who instructs the lab section of the program, said electric vehicles aren’t a new concept; in fact, they’re the original concept. The first automobiles driven ran on electricity in the 1800s before most cars switched to internal combustion engines.
Students assemble and disassemble a fully functional three-wheel electric vehicle during the class, which, once built, can travel as high as 60 mph. Once students complete the four-week program, and the online courses that follow, they receive an electrified mobility certification. This non-credit certification helps prepare them to identify key competencies employers seek in the mobility sector that are reflective of current best practices in the field.
“Our team has been very active in the development of the curriculum to make sure that our industry partners value the training we’re putting together. Roush and Bosch have been heavily involved with this program and their input has been invaluable,” said Amy Jones, Schoolcraft College’s Senior Director of Workforce Development. “It’s pretty comprehensive.”
The online components of the training program — which is being created in conjunction with the Electric Vehicle Center at the University of Michigan — has been in development since 2023.
These cohorts bring students together to help learn skills to better prepare for the world of electric and hybrid vehicles. There are many experienced technicians in the automotive industry who are interested in updating their skills to be able to work on hybrid and electric vehicles.
Willie Simmons, Jr., a technician at Roush, spent one evening recently at the MEC working on low voltage panels for the car. He said he’s spent some time around EVs, such as disassembling a Ford F-150 Lightning and learning more about it, but the program at Schoolcraft really helped drive important concepts home.
“I kind of love it,” he said. “I don’t know what I was expecting out of it, but I do like to challenge myself all the time.”
Battery electric and hybrid vehicle combined sales are projected to reach close to 70% by 2030. The industry will require workers to significantly upskill their current workforce, as well as new people entering the growing mobility industry.
The program has been exclusively used by Roush the past several months with plans to expand it to another local company soon. Some classes, including the online component, will also open to the public wanting to learn in the coming months.
This program helps educate those looking to advance in the mobility industry, a line of work that is here to stay for years to come, as well as automotive workers looking to upskill and learn more about hybrid and electric vehicles.
For more information on the program, contact Schoolcraft College’s Workforce and Economic Development office at [email protected] or by calling 734-462-4438.