Ken Mays
Central Oregon Community College
Bend, OR


With the help of a National Science Foundation (NSF) – Advanced Technological Education (ATE) Grant, the Central Oregon Community College Automotive Technology Program started a new degree titled AAS Automotive Technology in Electronics and Diagnostics.  Contained in this degree are nine short-term certificates that culminate with outcomes that prepare graduates to enter the world of vehicle electrification systems.  
 
In the winter of 2018, three Tesla START representatives visited with Central Oregon Community College to explore the possibility of a training partnership.  The Central Oregon community was well represented – the name Tesla brings excitement into any room.  We thought that Central Oregon Community College has the image that a green company like Tesla would embrace.  To be realistic, even though Tesla has a growing market share in Central and Eastern Oregon, there is only one Tesla Service center in Oregon (Portland).  A major requirement to have a community college / Tesla partnership is the nearby Tesla Service Center.  Here is why.  
 
Tesla START screens community college graduates to insure a “fit” into the Tesla organization.  To start the 12-week Tesla START training, students are hired by Tesla and receive a salary for the required 600 hours.  During the 12-week course, the Tesla START employees serve in the Tesla Service Center for a portion of their training.  Upon graduation of the 12-week course, these new employees may be assigned locally, but more likely in another area of the country where these graduates will work with 3-4 person teams on an advanced pay scale as a Level 2 Technician.  The opportunities grow from there.  
 
Two COCC graduates have completed the AAS degree at Central Oregon Community College with my strong recommendation.  One graduate was accepted to the Tesla START program at Central Piedmont Community College in North Carolina.  The second graduate was accepted at the new Tesla START site located on the campus of Shoreline Community College in Washington.  We hope to enter into a partnership with Tesla START in the near future. 
 
The hope that I offer my students - not just technical capacity, but industry awareness and leadership – helping to chart the future for our community and nation.  As the reader, you recognize that our transportation methods are quickly changing and the skill sets for future technicians and industry leaders is quickly changing.  Great opportunities now exist for students with science and math skills, computer and programming skills, industrial and automotive skills, and always community building skills.  

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If you missed the June 2018 Automotive Software & Electronics course, you'll now have the opportunity to get training in 2019!

AVTGNW member FutureTech has expanded the scope of the training and is now offering the Automotive Software & Electronics Boot Camps in Fundamentals, Intermediate, and Advanced levels. Those that took the June 2018 course have completed the Fundamentals Boot Camp and can build on their new skills in the Intermediate Boot Camp. 

Those located in the Northwest would be most interested in the boot camps available at Portland Community College: 

Automotive Software & Electronics Fundamentals Boot Camp
Location: Portland Community College
Date: July 15-19, 2019 (8:30AM-4:30PM - 35 hours of instruction)
Instructor: Dr. Mark Quarto
Cost: $1,865.00 for AVTGNW members (non-member price is $1,995 during early bird pricing period, and $2,195.00 thereafter)

Automotive Software & Electronics Intermediate Boot Camp
Location: Portland Community College
Date: July 22-26, 2019 (8:30AM-4:30PM - 35 hours of instruction)
Instructor: Dr. Mark Quarto
Cost: $1,865.00 for AVTGNW members (non-member price is $1,995 during early bird pricing period, and $2,195.00 thereafter)

AVTGNW members who wish to register and receive the AVTGNW rate should contact FutureTech directly. 



These courses are also running in Las Vegas, NV in 2018 and 2019:

Fundamentals:

• December 3-7, 2018 (TISOH, Room D)
• March 4-8, 2019 (TISOH, Room D)
• December 2-6, 2019 (Location TBD)

Intermediate:

• ​December 9-13, 2019 (Location TBD)

See full course overviews, objectives, agendas, and registration here. 

This 5-day training course will cover product-specific overviews and diagnostic/repair strategies for the Kia Soul EV, the Nissan Leaf, and the Tesla Model S. For the full course overview and to register click here. 

Tesla START representatives visited Central Oregon Community College to do what we call a “site visit” to determine if the Tesla Corporation would be interested in a partnership for training technicians into the electric drive industry AND the residential industry.  The representatives were well prepared and gracious.  They were the best folks to visit with our team here in Central Oregon.  In addition to our own administration, we had two COCC board members and most city mayors and city mangers.  Educational representatives joined us to look at workforce development for Central Oregon.  The name – Tesla – draws a crowd.   It was a “best day” for us all.  

Take a look at the photos below to see more!

As the automotive industry starts it enviable march toward autonomous vehicles, one manufacturer, Nissan is working on Brain to Vehicle technology (B2V). This technology will allow the vehicles to interpret signals from the driver’s brain, redefining how people interact with their vehicles. Nissan says that this technology will speed up the reaction times from the drivers and will lead to vehicles that keep adapting to make driving more enjoyable.
 
How it works: The driver wears a device that measures brain wave activity, which is then analyzed by the autonomous systems. With the vehicle being able to anticipate the intended action of the driver the system can then take action(s), such as turning the steering wheel or slowing the vehicle. According to Nissan, these actions will be 0.2 to 0.5 seconds faster than the driver will be able initiate.
 
A Nissan spokesperson is quoted saying, “Our systems will be able to tell an autonomous vehicle that the driver will be steering in the next 300 milliseconds and we can use this to enhance the execution, synchronizing the support of the autonomous vehicle with your actions.”
 
Nissan demonstrated the capabilities of the B2V technology at the CES 2018 Trade show in Las
Vegas, which took, place January 9- 12th.
 
Check out this article, this article, and this video to see more! 

AVTGNW has updated its Hands-On Vehicle Electrification training schedule. The new lineup consists of training in Portland, OR; Port Angeles, WA; Las Vegas, NV; and Godfrey, IL. Courses range from beginner to advanced, and are in 3-5 day segments. Visit the training page for course dates, pricing, and additional details!

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Dual Training Event: Electrified Vehicles Inside and Out + Alternating Current for Electric Drive Vehicles
​These two courses will cover Vehicle Electrification from the ground up, as well as provide a comprehensive overview of Alternating Current. You can view the full course description HERE. 

Date: June 26-30, 2017
Location: Portland, OR (Portland Community College)
Price: $1,995.00 (Use promo code AVTGNWPCC at checkout for a 15% discount)

5-Day Vehicle Electrification Technology Series
​Date: August 14-18, 2017
Location: Portland, OR (Portland Community College)
Price: $1,995.00

This multi-course training events includes the following topics:

• ​Electric Drive Vehicle Safety Systems
• Electric Transmissions (MGUs)
• Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) Battery Systems
• 3-Phase Power Inverter Systems
• Electric Drive Vehicle Regen and Braking Systems: Operation and Diagnostics
• Electric A/C and Heating Systems