Just as the automotive industry is making green strides
with hybrids and electric vehicles, Texas State Technical College is
also evolving their curriculum to follow environmental trends.
Si Acuna is an automotive technology instructor, "We have to stay up with all the new technology, and with this new hybrid trainer that we've got, it will hopefully enhance the students' learning as they complete our program".
The college wants to prepare graduates with the necessary abilities to work with green fuel technologies, using a Toyota Prius as the lab rat. "It's just a vehicle that's been taken off the street and we have added the components for diagnostics. We have a "faults box" and a "pinup box" that the students can use to help diagnose problems", says Acuna.
Many aspects of the college's automotive studies are changing, as they tell us the transportation industry growth is expected to jump 14% by the year 2020 in Texas.
"As electric and alternative fuel vehicles become more popular on the roads these days, automotive mechanics need to know how to work on these things", says Julie Cromeens of TSTC.
And it's not just college-aged people who are interested in this program, TSTC tells us even experienced mechanics see the benefit of these courses, as well as up and coming generations.
Instructors from the college tell us there are also other vehicle trainers, but the Toyota Prius is the first hybrid simulator. There are four TSTC campuses in the area.
Si Acuna is an automotive technology instructor, "We have to stay up with all the new technology, and with this new hybrid trainer that we've got, it will hopefully enhance the students' learning as they complete our program".
The college wants to prepare graduates with the necessary abilities to work with green fuel technologies, using a Toyota Prius as the lab rat. "It's just a vehicle that's been taken off the street and we have added the components for diagnostics. We have a "faults box" and a "pinup box" that the students can use to help diagnose problems", says Acuna.
Many aspects of the college's automotive studies are changing, as they tell us the transportation industry growth is expected to jump 14% by the year 2020 in Texas.
"As electric and alternative fuel vehicles become more popular on the roads these days, automotive mechanics need to know how to work on these things", says Julie Cromeens of TSTC.
And it's not just college-aged people who are interested in this program, TSTC tells us even experienced mechanics see the benefit of these courses, as well as up and coming generations.
Instructors from the college tell us there are also other vehicle trainers, but the Toyota Prius is the first hybrid simulator. There are four TSTC campuses in the area.
