Automotive students trained for natural gas powered vehicles
DEMARCO BAUCOM
News Writing Student
When gasoline is replaced by compressed natural gas, a newer and cleaner fuel, automotive technicians need new tools for their trade.
With this in mind, OCCC has decided to lend a helping hand.
The Automotive Technology Department offers a training program in alternative fuel so students can work on vehicles that have been converted to run on natural gas, said Richard Steere, Automotive coordinator.
Steere said the program began in spring 2008 because so many fleets in Oklahoma were using natural gas.
Some of the companies that run natural gas fleet trucks are Oklahoma Natural Gas and Chesapeake Energy, among others.
It’s estimated that 130,000 vehicles are run on natural gas in the U.S. On the other hand, Argentina has roughly 1.5 million cars running on natural gas, according to Clean Vehicle Education Foundation Web site.
Since so many companies are switching to cheaper and cleaner natural gas to run their fleets, the department decided there was a need to train students to meet the demand for those technicians, Steere said.
He said it’s a good idea because natural gas is a renewable energy source.
Natural gas is a renewable fuel because anything that decays, such as landfill material, can be turned into methane, which is a natural gas, Steere said.
Liquefied natural gas also is cheaper than gasoline, he said, costing about a dollar a gallon.
“To work on a car with natural gas, mechanics have to be Oklahoma State Certified Alternative Fuel Technicians and have the card that goes along with it,” Steere said.
“The certification class is not a credit class, and other people are more than welcome to enroll.
“I really suggest students take Engine Performance and Automotive Electrical classes before enrolling in this class.”
The alternative fuel program is run through Corporate Learning at OCCC.
Information can be found on the Automotive Technology Web site www.occc.edu/Automotive.
“Once technicians have received their certificate, they have to renew it every year,” Steere said.
The alternative fuel program is taught in the Automotive Department.
Steere said the department will be offering two classes in the spring, the certification class and the installer class.
For more information, contact Jim Schwark, Business Division dean, at 405-682-7550.
