Education for EV sustainability

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Tim Gauthier is the executive manager of the Oregon-Columbia Chapter of National Electrical Contractors Association.

The idea of driving an electric vehicle — and not having to fill up a gas tank each week — is enticing. With the current price of oil, the incentives offered by the government to both taxpayers and automobile manufacturers, and the demands on the conscious consumer to live sustainably, the EV boom is on the brink of happening.

At this point, there are conflicting opinions on how big the actual boom will be. Some are estimating 10 percent of new cars will be electric, while others suggest a more conservative number of 4 percent by 2020. Even with the differing opinions, the fact remains that consumers and communities need to be prepared to support this trend if they want it to take hold.

Drivers will have to cross a few speed bumps along their journey to own and operate an electric car. To help navigate that journey and support the EV growth, the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program aims to educate the electrical industry in creating the infrastructure required for the inevitable EV boom.

EVITP is a national, nonprofit course developed to facilitate the training and certification of the EV sector and electrical industry personnel in a consistent and comprehensive way. The program covers all of the bases including safety, technical requirements and performance integrity.

EVITP is a collaborative effort. The training course was developed by an alliance of automobile manufacturers, utility companies, EV equipment suppliers, electrical energy storage device manufacturers, state and local electrical inspectors, electrical contractors, electrical workers and first responders. Having a consistent source of training for the industry will be an asset to all consumers for the long term. The best infrastructure is established only if the entire industry is on the same page and the EVITP is on the right road to accomplishing its goal of clear, consistent, training.

EVITP aims to ensure that the EV movement is a success, and that the established infrastructure is reliable and consistent throughout the nation, and more specifically in the Pacific Northwest. Oregonians in particular have shown an interest in finding sustainable solutions to the traditional combustion engine vehicle.

The national EVITP curriculum remains fluid in order to best serve the public. As new developments occur, training will adapt accordingly to prepare the workforce with the most up-to-date techniques and knowledge.

The NECA/IBEW 48 training center in Portland is a leader in EV training. Rod Belisle, executive director of the training center, Topher Edwards, instructor, and Mike Dutton, IBEW 48 business director, are now certified with the EVITP Master Instructor Training Program. Having completed the “Train-The-Trainer” course Belisle, Edwards and Dutton have the knowledge and curriculum to teach others the skills needed to build the EV infrastructure and make the integration of electric vehicles into our lives a success.

In other words, the NECA/IBEW 48 workforce is trained and ready to guide Oregon’s EV future.

Tim Gauthier's last post for Sustainable Business Oregon was about the job market created by electric vehicles.