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.   

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. 

​As with most of the technologies associated with Plug-In and Electric Vehicles, the battery pack charging technologies are changing with blazing speed.  Currently, the conductive (cable plug-in) systems are marching toward ever-higher charging rates.  With most SAE and CHAdeMO conductive Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) systems capable of 50kW – 100kW power, Wireless Charging is now beginning to gain traction in the vehicle battery charging market.  Wireless Charging systems have obvious advantages by not requiring a vehicle operator to make a direct connection between the charging station and the vehicle.  Electric vehicles can have a vehicle pad mounted under the vehicle so it can receive power after the vehicle is driven over the base pad to initialize Wireless Charging.  The vehicle or your smart phone will assist in positioning the vehicle pad with the base pad. However, currently Wireless systems are not capable of delivering the level of kW power when compared to conductive systems.  For example, the Qualcomm HALO system can currently provide 3.7kW, 7.4kW, 11kW, and 22kW Wireless Charging. 

​The Wireless Charging system has one significant advantage when compared to conductive charging systems – it can be located within a road or street to permit quick charging when a vehicle is within range.  As an example, Wireless Charging is perfect for electric buses.  When the bus has stopped to pick-up passengers at a bus stop location, the bus can charge while it is taking on passengers.  Also, the bus can charge when the driver is on a rest break.  Having Wireless Charging locations along a bus route, it eliminates the necessity of returning the bus to the depot to be charged at a conductive charging station which, is a significant advantage and convenience.

To ensure that there will be trained automotive technicians to service HEV, PHEV, EREV, and BEV (e.g., Advanced Technology vehicles) Automotive Instructors play the pivotal role in developing these technicians.  Prior to instructing any automotive topic, instructors should receive professional training and develop experiences that can be transferred to their students.  With degrees already brimming with traditional automotive courses, instructors are finding it extremely difficult to determine how Advanced Technology vehicle information will be inserted into a structure that cannot accommodate additional courses.  Additionally, college level administrators may not see a need to include the necessary courses to automotive degrees and certificates that properly prepare the students to analyze, diagnose, and repair vehicles with high voltage electric drive systems, battery packs, electric air conditioning compressors, etc.  There are college administrators that have tried to solve this problem by offering adjunct 1-year certificate programs that permit students to continue with their automotive studies for a 3rd year.  However, students quickly realize that, because the extra year of training in the Advanced Technologies is not a component of their 2-year degree program, they cannot acquire financial aid to help defray the educational costs until after graduation.  Therefore, there are multiple issues in offering Advanced Technology vehicle training to the students, even if they desire it. 

A more pressing issue involves automotive instructor training.  If colleges aren’t supporting the addition of Advanced Technology education as a part of their automotive programs then, it may be difficult for automotive instructors to acquire support from their administration to attend qualified professional training.  At FutureTech, our staff recognized this problem many years ago.  The concern is real – with the production of Advanced Technology vehicles accelerating at exponential speed and instructors not receiving qualified training then, how will the next generation of technicians be trained to fundamentally learn the knowledge and skills necessary to diagnose and repair Advanced Technology products? 
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The answer is simple.  FutureTech supports colleges and their automotive instructor staff that currently or plan to provide this training as part of a certificate or degree program.  For those colleges that do not include or offer this training, private sector companies, such as FutureTech have already developed the training products, tools, and equipment for field technicians and can easily begin to integrate college level students into these Advanced Technology vehicle courses.   

​Las Vegas, NV – Electric, Hybrid, and Fuel Cell Vehicle technology firm FutureTech Auto (FTA) will be conducting two 8-hour training events in Las Vegas, Nevada to coincide with SEMA and AAPEX. These training events are scheduled for October 31st and November 4th focusing on Service Advisors, Electric Drive Systems, High Voltage Battery Installation and, targeted diagnostic processes.
 
These training events serve as the official kick-off of the Access Brand powered by FutureTech supporting training and education. Access is committed to providing technology and training delivered in a way that is comprehensive and accessible to everyone currently or planning to service vehicles with Electric Drive technologies.
 
“Access powered by FutureTech has a unique approach”, Says Dr. Mark Quarto, Chief Technical Officer of FTA, “we provide technical training solutions for management, support teams, and technicians”. Dr. Quarto recognizes that the needs of Service Advisors have been overlooked specific to supporting Advanced Vehicle Technologies.  “If your business has made an investment in technician related training as well as tools and equipment, now it’s time for your service advisors and managers to receive training on how to interface and sell advanced technology vehicle services to customers that own these cars. NOW is the time to fill that void”.
 
The Aging process of an Electric Drive System begins with the Battery Pack so “when your customer brings the car in for a perceived high voltage battery problem, why don’t we find out if the battery needs to be serviced at all”, Dr. Quarto states, “and if it does, the Battery Testing and Installation training provides the technician with the skills to confidently do it economically for both the shop and the customer”.
 
These 8-hour events, which will be held at Frank’s European Service in Las Vegas, are only a preview of what Access has planned for 2017 and beyond. Access brand has management and technician training courses scheduled in key locations throughout the U.S. market. The initial 2017 training schedule will be posted and accepting registrations beginning August 30th, 2016.
 
“This is about accessibility and ease of application for all global businesses”, says founder Don Burton. “Access and all brands powered by FutureTech are focused on assisting automotive businesses in making their transition into servicing advanced technology vehicles that use electric drive systems”.  “FTA’s scalable solutions make it easy and possible for all businesses to enter this growing market” states Mr. Burton.
 
As an ongoing commitment to the market, FutureTech and Access have made available complimentary webinars each month, cost effective training classes, and varied technical events to support the needs of service and maintenance businesses.
 
Customers with high interest in participating in this event can review course outlines and register for these invitation only training events in Las Vegas, by visiting futuretechauto.com/vegas-training. Frank’s European Service is located at 1931 N. Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas NV 89109.
 
 
FutureTech was founded in 2015, and 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. For more information, visit http://www.futuretechauto.com

FutureTech's Training and Knowledge-Base subsidiary, Access, will be providing training on HEV Systems to the Illinois Chapter of the Automotive Service Association. The event will take place on Sunday, September 18th, 2016 from 9:00AM - 12:00PM  at the ASA CAN Conference. What the participants will be learning: 

​Prospective participants should contact show and training organizers for registration information.