The FutureTech Auto Solutions Blog

Educators are the first line of defense to the future of the automotive aftermarket. Instructors far and wide are given the opportunity to shape the future of individual technicians by providing the skills to deal with advanced vehicle technologies. 

Automotive students have a bright future ahead of them. Vehicle Electrification technology expands the number of possible skills they can learn, creates limitless ways they can differentiate themselves from other techs, and increases the number of possible repair options they can provide to their customers.

It all starts in the classroom. Students become a direct reflection of the skills imparted upon them by their teachers. It's time to hone in on the skills to pass on to the next generation of automotive technicians.

FutureTech's Access Online has created an affordable 8-hour training series (over 8 equal-length live, instructor-led sessions) to help with just that. We can even provide you with PowerPoint materials to start your classroom integration of Vehicle Electrification on the right foot. 

Don't wait. Your students' futures are counting on your knowledge and expertise!

Hybrid, Plug-In, and Electric vehicle technologies have implemented a multitude of battery technologies into a significant number of vehicle platforms.  From 2000 – 2010 Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) dominated hybrid vehicles and it continues to dominate the hybrid market today.  However, in 2009 Lithium technology began to make its mark in the hybrid market and this technology has continued to move steadily into the hybrid market with each passing model year.  Plug-In and full electric hybrids have been predominantly Lithium technology from the very beginning and these vehicles have been strictly Lithium for many model years. 

Every technology has iterations during its life cycle.  The frequency of these iterations becomes less frequent as the technology matures.  Battery technology is not maturing, but, it is iterating quickly due to the rapid cell technology changes.  When applying these changes to the repair industry where vehicles must be - it has a profound effect on the technicians that must perform the data analysis, diagnostics, and repair.  Unlike traditional vehicles that are far more mature and can be repaired by using pattern failure (pattern failure symptom recognition) analysis for a given vehicle manufacturer and model, advanced technology vehicles with electric drives and battery packs cannot be diagnosed using pattern failure recognition.  With changes in battery cell chemistry, sometimes by model year, pattern failure recognition is impossible.  Furthermore, when cell chemistries change, this means that the data and how it will react with various driving conditions is very different from year to year – even for the same vehicle model.
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To solve this dilemma, service technicians and their managers need to recognize that the necessary analysis and diagnostic treatment for the advanced technology vehicles is significantly different than a traditional vehicle.  Technicians will need to accept that they will need to learn the operation of the different battery technologies so they can determine how to interpret scan tool data and how to manipulate the vehicle system to force the diagnostic process into something less gray and more binary.  So, it’s time for technicians to go back to school; the train has already left the station.   

​Many times during a FutureTech hybrid training class, we’re asked by students if there is any easy method of determining whether a driveability problem is engine related or electric propulsion related.  Depending on which manufacturer and systems design this can be more or less difficult to determine.  However, there is one generic method of at least isolating whether the problem is engine or electric propulsion related and that is to use the Regenerative (Regen) Braking mode. As a short review, Regen converts the kinetic energy stored by the vehicle (in motion) into electricity by the 3-phase electric drive motor.  This converted energy is then transferred to the 3-phase power inverter and rectified using software controls from alternating current to direct current.  This direct current is transferred to the battery pack to store the energy.
 
To determine whether a hesitation, chuggle, fish bite, or other low power condition is engine or electric propulsion related, merely accelerate the vehicle at wide-open throttle for about 5-10 seconds.  You will likely feel the problem during this acceleration.  After the 5-10 second acceleration, immediately perform an aggressive braking event.  If you can still feel the problem during Regen braking, it’s a problem related to the electric propulsion system (drive motor or power inverter).  If the problem is no longer there during Regen, the problem resides in the traditional engine system.  I want to stress here that, this is a simple generic test to help narrow where the problem may be stemming, it is not meant to be an “all encompassing” test.  Notice that I didn’t mention the battery pack.  There is a separate test that can be performed on the battery pack (stress test), and this can be performed during the same test drive for the engine and electric propulsion system by using a scan tool.  The battery pack can also cause hesitations, chuggles, fish bites, etc.
 
In total, this is about a 20 minute test drive for the engine, electric propulsion, and battery pack.  It’s simple, effective, and will save a technician significant diagnostic time.   

Las Vegas, NV (October 11, 2016) - FutureTech is expanding its Electric Drive Training division Access, with 27 online instructor-led training courses for Hybrid, Battery Electric, EREV, Plug-In, and Fuel Cell Vehicle diagnostics and repair. The expansion, dubbed Access Online, has begun taking registrations for its first-quarter 2017 training courses, with additional courses being added quarterly thereafter. The courses are conveniently timed for evening sessions and are run in 1-hour increments.
 
Early-bird registrants can enjoy 25% off of all Access Online training courses until November 30th, 2016 with no promo code required. Courses start at just $52 (including discount), and range from 1-5 one-hour sessions per course. Additional discounts and special pricing are available for bulk registrations of 10 or more by contacting Access Online.
 
Unlike Access’ free 30-minute webinars that focus primarily on technical theory and basic systems overviews, Access Online’s technical training courses will emphasize practical application of diagnostic and repair techniques and tools, including scan tool data and PIDs. At the conclusion of each training course, participants will be able to take their new skills back to their businesses and apply it to existing needs. In fact, each participant will receive a Certificate of Completion after successfully concluding each complete training course, which can be applied toward NATEF credits and other automotive professional development requirements.
 
Technical training topics include but are not limited to:

• Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) Battery Systems
• Lithium Ion Battery Family Systems
• Hybrid Electric Vehicle “Tune-Up” Maintenance
• How to Analyze, Test & Diagnose 3-Phase Hybrid & Electric Vehicle Transmissions & Drive Units
• Service Advisor & Manager Training for Hybrid Electric Vehicles
• Plus model-specific diagnostic and repair training on the Toyota Prius, Chevrolet Volt, Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, Honda Civic Hybrid, and the GMC/Chevrolet Yukon/Tahoe 2-Mode system.

 
Access has recruited three additional instructors to lead the online training courses: Yves Racette, Paul Pelly, and Alan Nagel will facilitate the courses alongside FutureTech’s Chief Technical Officer, Dr. Mark Quarto. Participants can expect the same high-quality training courses in Access’ online sessions as have been experienced in hands-on training.
 
Access Online’s training courses are perfect for automotive technicians, shop owners, service advisors, educators, new and pre-owned car dealers, fleets, and other automotive service professionals who find themselves tight on time and budgetary flexibility. Although hands-on instruction is the automotive industry’s gold-standard for training, Access is prepared to deliver quality solutions to those who are unable to travel to a classroom.

Individuals who are interested in a preview of Access' hands-on training are invited to two free hands-on training sessions in Las Vegas: Service Advisor and manager Training for Hybrid Electric Vehicles (October 31, 2016), and Battery Testing and Installation (November 4, 2016). 
 

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FutureTech has a combined 70 years’ experience in developing and delivering Advanced Vehicle Technology solutions. By understanding that the industry is composed of many equally important pieces, FutureTech can deliver multi-faceted solutions to automotive service shops, fleets, distributors, manufacturers, educators, and more. FutureTech meets the demands of today's automotive service professionals while developing tomorrow's advanced technology solutions.