Hybrid cars, while still representing only a small percentage of vehicle sales in North America, have raised very big concerns among a very specialized group of professionals.

Those professionals – mechanics, tow truck drivers, and first responders – are the men and women who have most to worry about with the new technology represented by a hybrid vehicle. Some of those worries relate to the dangers of these unique vehicles – dangers which are quite different to those normally associated with the family car.

Hybrids can switch from gas-power to electric-battery power. That fact is the main cause of concern.

While manufacturers tend to downplay the dangers, because they are speaking to buyers and average drivers, first responders have different concerns. How would you feel if you were waiting in your car to be rescued and the first responders couldn’t use the jaws of life because they first had to make sure it was safe?

 

“Only the makers are familiar with them. The troubleshooting skill set is completely different.”

Workun commented that while manufacturers routinely provide first responders with manuals for disabling airbags and releasing seatbelts, they have not provided information on disabling a hybrid drive train. There is no ignition key to turn off, for example – just an electronic door opener, which can be activated within 15 feet of a vehicle. What happens if an injured person’s foot happens to hit the accelerator while they are being extracted – or the device is thrown clear and someone steps on it by mistake? No one at the scene wants to find out the hard way.

Even more dangerous, the voltages used by the hybrid’s electric battery – up to 1,000 volts - can be fatal if not properly disabled. And it isn’t just first responders who need to know how to do that. Tow truck drivers, fire departments, autobody technicians and mechanics in general repair shops, also have to know what to do. Although dealerships know their models, they may not always be handy in the case of an emergency.

None of these problems are insurmountable, but they do need to be addressed. A northern Alberta college has decided to do just that.

Sandy Rendle, an automotive instructor at Grande Prairie Regional College’s Fairview campus, polled local auto repair shops and was told that many would not accept a hybrid vehicle for repairs of any kind.

“Even doing a brake job or changing a tire can be hazardous, if you aren’t aware of the dangers or know the proper procedure,” he commented.

While dealerships can send their mechanics to a manufacturer’s course, there is nothing for the multitudes of other repair shops, who deal with many makes and models. Ditto for first responders and fire departments.

As a result, Rendle decided to take a well-regarded course offered by ACDC of Rhode Island, which offers training in hybrid diagnosis, repair, safety – and also certifies its graduates. The five day, 12 hour a day course is unique and intense – and has the green light from the auto industry. The program is also a good fit for the college.

ACDC agrees. The college will be able to offer the program and use all the teaching materials, as long as they display the company logo. The first 8 hour session will be offered to First Responders on March 6, 2010 at the campus in Fairview, Alberta and the same on March 10, 2010 in Grande Prairie.

Rendle reported that he learned a lot from ACDC – and met instructors, technicians, and auto shop owners from several countries. The safety aspect was a key component – and while he was there, a sobering object lesson made the news. A tow truck driver in another city was electrocuted while attempting to hook up a hybrid.

With his master certification, Rendle can now legally have a hybrid repair station, and offer qualified instruction at the college. He will be initially be passing on the lessons he learned to those who need them most - first responders. A safety course for others working with hybrid cars will also be scheduled.

The college plans to offer weekend and weekday courses. Demand for the internationally recognized course is expected to be high.

The importance of this new offering, Rendle emphasized, is that by using the ACDC course, the college will also help to standardize course components and teaching methods. This is critical for provincial recognition and essential for the industry as a whole. There are no similar programs offered in Alberta – and few in Canada or elsewhere.

Since the hybrid technology is new, some special teaching materials will also be required, Rendle revealed. Class Zero 1,000 volt gloves – which have to be tested every six months – are necessary, as is a multi-meter capable of reading the high voltage. He is also in contact with wreckers to acquire hybrid engines and battery packs.

Although hybrid technology is considered new, there are three generations of some makes on the road, Rendle explained. One of the older ones, he learned from ACDC, can hold a lethal electric charge for a long time, even when everything is supposedly turned off. Knowing that fact can save lives.

Like all new technology, it takes a while for everyone to get up to speed. Rendle is sure the reservations about hybrids will be a thing of the past in a few more years.

“Air bags worried mechanics when they first appeared. Some wouldn’t touch a car with them in.”

It’s all a matter of understanding the technology so that there are no mishaps, he declared.

Rendle remarked that full-electric vehicles are the way of the future – but that in Canada, especially in the north, gas engines are not going to disappear anytime soon. At present electric vehicles simply don’t have the range. Hybrids, though, he found impressive. They are quiet, get excellent gas mileage and are easy to handle, he reported.

Given that they’re becoming more popular, the college, he said, will be gradually adding hybrid components to its apprenticeship automotive trades programs. He hoped to have these recognized by the province, as a critical part of the program, in the future.