myCanvas / myCourses 
Featured photo: Automotive instructor Adam Riddle teaches Blue Ridge students. (Photo by Rich Keen.)
Marketing and Communications Dept.
The following story was featured in Blue Ridge Community College’s 2023-24 annual report. This report and others are available online on the About Blue Ridge webpage.
Every year, more North Carolinians say goodbye to the gas pump and switch to an electric vehicle (EV).
Because of this, the state is facing a need for more EV mechanics and engineers. Blue Ridge Community College embraces this challenge by collaborating with industry partners and local leaders.
Thanks to a $367,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission as part of the Expanding Electric Automotive students inspect a locally made Cummins-Meritor eAxle in Blue Ridge Community College’s Flex Lab.
Vehicle Infrastructure in Western NC project, Blue Ridge was able to purchase two fully electric vehicles for training on the Henderson and Transylvania campuses and invest in professional development for automotive faculty.
The College also began a series of community partnerships with the North Carolina Business Committee for Education, the STEPs4GROWTH project, several businesses, and other colleges like Wake Tech. These collaborations have been mutually beneficial with the common goal of increasing the number of trained EV professionals in North Carolina.
“We have come alongside other community colleges and higher education partners to be proactive in this effort,” said Joe Shook, Blue Ridge’s dean of advanced technologies. “In conjunction with support from our automotive and utility industry partners, new advancements in training and coursework have been and are being developed to meet this need.”
Last fall, Blue Ridge hosted the Land of Sky Clean Vehicles Coalition’s Electric Vehicles Workforce Development event, where automotive students got up-close access to electric vehicles, as well as an eAxle (a component of an electric tractor trailer), locally made by Cummins-Meritor.
Students also heard talks from local business and community leaders in the energy and automotive industries who illustrated the goals for EV expansion in North Carolina and the many accompanying job opportunities.
Sara Nichols, director of the Land of Sky Clean Vehicles Coalition, noted ongoing increases in electric vehicles across Western North Carolina and the country.
“This increase is providing a new opportunity in the workforce for EV maintenance and electric vehicle supply equipment talent, and we are excited to see Blue Ridge Community College’s support,” remarked Nichols. “This helps the Land of Sky Clean Vehicles Coalition’s efforts by ensuring the region has the technical expertise to advance EV adoption and charging infrastructure, fostering a more sustainable transportation system.”
Read more stories like this in Blue Ridge Community College’s 2023-24 annual report. This report and others are available online on the About Blue Ridge webpage.