CONTACT:
Maddie Garbalagtys, Drive Clean Colorado
Maddie@drivecleanco.org | 920-296-5665
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City and County of Denver, State of Colorado, and EV Leaders Celebrate Success of EV Technician Training Pilot Program at Denver Auto Shop
Clean Transportation Leaders Gathered for Press Event on March 20th at Pro Auto Care, Now Specialized as an EV Maintenance Shop to Meet Demand
Denver, Colo., Mar. 22, 2024 – On Wednesday, officials from the City and County of Denver, the State of Colorado, and other local leaders celebrated the specialization of Pro Auto Care as a specialized electric vehicle (EV) maintenance shop. The decision to expand Pro Auto Care’s technician training to specialize in EVs comes after a successful pilot program executed in 2023.
“Denver continues to be a national leader in building a climate-forward future that invests not only in our sustainability efforts, but in our people, too,” said Mayor Mike Johnston. “This groundbreaking EV technician training program opens new pathways to well-paying green workforce opportunities for Denverites, and we’re thrilled to see the program continue to expand and train another wave of Denverites in electric vehicle technology.”
In 2023, Drive Clean Colorado received funding from the City and County of Denver and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) for EV Technician Training. With this funding, 20 technicians -15 from Pro Auto Care – underwent training, strengthening their skill sets in EV maintenance, safety training, career opportunities and beyond.
Since the trainings, Pro Auto Care has committed to becoming an automotive shop specializing in EV maintenance, paving the way for other shops and technicians across Colorado. With the assistance of Winn-Marion and Xcel Energy, four chargers have been installed at their shop, two inside and two outside for customer use. A Tesla Model 3 was also added as a temporary vehicle for customers when their cars are in the shop for extended periods.
“EVs are here. People want them. People love them. And we’re going to be a solution to their service needs,” said Al Oramas, CEO of Pro Auto Care.
According to a 2023 clean energy jobs report from E2, clean energy accounted for 4 percent of all net new jobs in Colorado in 2023. Since 2020, Colorado’s clean energy workforce has grown 11 percent faster than overall employment and the state’s clean energy workforce was powered by a 14 percent increase in clean vehicle jobs.
“Last year, Drive Clean Colorado kicked off its EV Safe Tech Project which aims to provide EV training for current automotive technicians and mechanics who seek to include EVs in their work,” said Hunter Woodruff, Senior Manager, Fleets & Infrastructure at Drive Clean Colorado. “As of now, there are over 100,000 EVs in Colorado, with a growing number of Coloradans experiencing the economic and environmental benefits of EV adoption each day. However, supporting this transition requires a holistic ecosystem and a skilled workforce who can safely keep these vehicles operational and on the road.”
Colorado is currently one of the few states that is really working to get ahead of the curve by pouring resources into EV technician training. Ensuring that technicians are adequately trained to work with EVs is crucial for their safety and the safety of EV owners. With the rapid growth of the EV market, there is an increased need for skilled technicians who can address the specific maintenance needs and intricacies of EV technology. By investing in EV technician training, not only are safety standards enhanced, but job opportunities are created, and industry expertise is developed. This initiative aligns with broader efforts to promote Colorado as a workforce development leader in the transition to electric transportation.
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About Colorado Department of Transportation
The Colorado Department of Transportation’s mission is to provide the best multi-modal transportation system that most effectively and safely moves people, goods and information. CDOT maintains more than 23,000 lane miles of highway, more than 3,400 bridges and 35 mountain passes. Our team of employees works tirelessly to reduce the rate and severity of crashes and improve the safety of all modes of transportation. CDOT leverages partnerships with a range of private and public organizations and operates Bustang, an interregional express bus service. Find more details at codot.gov.
About Denver’s Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency
The Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency leads Denver’s ambitious emissions reduction targets and sustainability programs in collaboration with fellow departments, other units of government, and community partners. The office aligns its goals with current climate science and promotes the role that climate action and sustainability play in strengthening Denver’s economic vitality for a prosperous future for all residents and businesses. Equity underscores all this work, delivering and prioritizing benefits to Denver’s most climate-vulnerable people.
About Drive Clean Colorado, a Clean Cities and Communities Coalition
Drive Clean Colorado (DCC), a U.S. Department of Energy designated coalition in the Clean Cities and Communities partnership, is a non-profit organization that delivers a variety of programs to accelerate the equitable adoption of clean transportation with the vision of cleaner air and economic growth for Colorado. DCC runs the Drive Electric Colorado initiative which is a clearinghouse for all things EV in Colorado, the Watts@Work program for workplace charging, the EV Safe Tech training project, and hosts four ReCharge coaches for the Colorado Energy Office to provide grant coaching and EV awareness outreach. Learn more at DriveCleanColorado.org.
