The Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) is now offering a five-day hands-on electric vehicle (EV) course at its new Chicago Technical Center (CTC) in Vernon Hills, Illinois.

The course will be taught by I-CAR’s “bench of EV experts” and will serve as the capstone to eight prerequisite EV courses for collision repair professionals. I-CAR Technical Products and Curriculum Director Bud Center told Repairer Driven News the hands-on course is “designed to address large knowledge and skill gaps in the collision repair industry” with the right space, tools, equipment, and personalized instruction “to build skills proficiency.”

“This is all followed by written and practical (hands-on) exams to ensure the learner has the knowledge and skill necessary to perform complete, safe, and quality repairs in this area,” he said.

I-CAR Director, Technical Programs and Services Dirk Fuchs said in a news release that the course’s personalized, and onsite instruction will “help technicians gain the confidence and competence needed to help inspect and repair today’s EV and hybrid vehicles aligned with OEM-specific procedures and high voltage safety best practices.”

“Our state-of-the-art EV Lab at the CTC offers the ideal learning environment, as it is designed to include all of the appropriate tools, equipment, and space, along with expert instruction necessary to guide individuals towards safety and proficiency in all aspects of the EV repair process,” he said.

EV safety instruction includes learning how to safely disconnect high voltage systems, confirm zero potential, and initialize high voltage systems following repairs and service. Center said the course will initially only be offered at the CTC because it has the appropriate space, tools, and equipment “to optimize the learning experience.”

“Electric vehicles are here and manufacturers are committing to an increased amount of EVs on the road in the future,” Center said. “Therefore the knowledge is necessary now for a complete, safe, and quality repair. The I-CAR courses are not intended to replace OEM training. These online courses provide collision repair professionals with the foundational knowledge they need to safely perform repairs on electric vehicles. This also allows learners to be better prepared for vehicle maker-specific training by providing the foundational knowledge and skill prior to attending the vehicle maker-specific training so it is a more efficient and effective learning experience.”

Repairers who take the course will learn to:

• • Understand the relationship between electrical values, voltage, current, and resistance;
  • Measure voltage, current, and resistance on different electrical circuits;
  • Describe the various EV systems’ electrical safety relationships;
  • Evaluate situations around high voltage (HV) and determine when it’s safe to work on HV components;
  • Understand vehicle shutdown so others can work safely;
  • Perform power down sequence of HV;
  • Perform zero voltage testing on HV circuits;
  • Perform an electrical bonding test;
  • Perform electrical insulation isolation testing;
  • Perform power-up sequence of HV; and
  • Pull from the course description.

To register for the $2,400 course, visit I-CAR.com. Dates and times for course sessions will be determined once enough people have registered to take the course. Other hands-on EV courses may be offered by I-CAR in the future depending on industry trends and needs, according to Center.

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Featured image: Niel Speetjens, I-CAR’s Senior Manager & Subject Matter Expert, ADAS/EV Specialty Training, preparing for an all-new EV HOSD 5-day course, at the I-CAR Chicago Technical Center. (Photo provided by I-CAR)