In the push to adopt alternative fuel vehicles to protect the environment and reduce our dependence on foreign oil, one factor is often overlooked; automotive technicians must be properly trained to maintain and repair these technologies if they are ever to become a commonplace part of our lives.
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The National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC) is one organization working to make sure technicians have the knowledge they need to work on these vehicles. Most recently, the NAFTC has partnered with the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) to develop and provide free Propane Autogas Vehicle Technician Training nationwide.

June 14-16 the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC) will conduct the third installment of this course at Linn-Benton Community College in Lebanon, OR.

Propane is an inexpensive, readily accessible alternative fuel. Available virtually everywhere, propane offers performance comparable to gasoline. It is also a domestic resource, which reduces U.S. dependence on foreign energy sources. Vehicles, in growing numbers, are being formatted to run on this clean-burning, efficient fuel.

As the popularity of propane as a vehicle fuel increases, the demand for propane autogas technicians grows too. Automotive technicians must know everything currently applicable to propane autogas technology, along with understanding the advances in engine management and emission controls that affect the design and servicing of these systems.

Vice President of Education and Training at PERC, Stuart Flatow, explained, “PERC was thrilled to partner with the NAFTC to create a formal course for students seeking knowledge on trouble shooting and maintaining propane autogas fuel systems. Now we are excited to roll the course out across the country and train these automotive technicians on how to work with this fuel.”

The new propane autogas training gives automotive service technicians an in-depth look at servicing and maintaining propane-autogas-powered vehicles. The NAFTC launched the course to help fill a need for qualified technicians who can adapt, service, and maintain the alternative fuel systems.

NAFTC Director Bill Davis commented, “The Propane Autogas Vehicle Technician Training will help us educate automotive technicians in the safe repair and maintenance of vehicles that run on propane autogas. Incorporating this new course into current automotive technology curriculums will benefit students, schools and their communities.”

Participants in the NAFTC Propane Autogas Vehicle Technician Training benefit from extensive hands-on activities. In addition to classroom lectures in the three-day entry-level propane autogas course, participants obtain an in-depth understanding of servicing and maintaining these vehicles. The course includes topics such as propane characteristics, fuel systems, vehicle compatibility, system components, and safety. The training is a technical course for professional, experienced automotive technicians and automotive trainers, seeking to learn about propane autogas vehicles.

Additional training sessions are scheduled throughout the U.S. For more information visit http://bit.ly/1Ysiqs1