Nationwide, the transition to zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDVs) is well underway. More than 10,000 zero-emission MHDVs — including more than 3,400 electric school buses (ESBs), 2,200 zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty trucks and step vans, and 5,269 battery-electric transit buses — have already been deployed across the United States thanks to sustainability goals, funding incentives and transition targets, with even more growth on the horizon.
But for the continued and accelerated deployment of ESBs and other MHDVs to happen smoothly, something else will be necessary too: effective training and skills for all workers across the MHDV industry, particularly workers interacting with electric vehicle systems.
To repair and maintain mixed fleets, the more than 290,000 diesel technicians in the U.S. will need both combustion and zero-emission drive system knowledge and skills. While some operating and maintenance procedures — like climate control systems or chassis and body upkeep — are similar across drive systems, other components and subsystems that involve high-voltage, such as the high-voltage distribution module or high-voltage cables, need special protective equipment and training before any maintenance work is planned.
Drivers will also need proper training to ensure they’re prepared to consider range maximization, regenerative braking and optimal charging — though less under-the-hood knowledge is required for drivers.
Training for drivers and technicians most commonly occurs upon or immediately before delivery of the zero-emission vehicle, and is led by manufacturers and dealers, but there are also training options at community colleges, technical schools, private institutions and through consultants. To help centralize the known technician training programs related to electric school buses, World Resources Institute’s Electric School Bus Initiative developed a database intended to make finding and joining applicable training programs easier and faster.
As the number of zero-emission MHDV training programs grow, it’s vital that these programs are aligned around a core set of unified standards. If differences exist between training programs or lack a widely accepted set of core skills and knowledge, there will likely be mixed results regarding safety and preparedness of workers.
For example, all technician trainees should be able to demonstrate a live-dead-live test, use the one-hand rule, practice a manual service disconnect and consistently perform lockout/tagout procedures after their training. Other important topics, such as how to handle new hires or turnover, should also be considered when developing training programs.
A set of training standards for fleet and depot managers is also relevant. These stakeholders must also consider safety when setting up their facilities with signage, work areas and access to personal protective equipment (PPE). Outside of directly employed workers, operators are also being approached by first responders, community members and third parties like towing services on how to safely handle battery-electric vehicles in routine and emergency situations.
Knowing that a set of commonly understood learning outcomes will be critical to achieving safe and adequate zero-emission MHDV training, World Resources Institute’s Electric School Bus Initiative developed the very first set of Electric School Bus Training Standards, which offer learning objectives focused on electric school bus deployment and high-voltage safety preparation to aid in the reskilling transition. The standards are divided into an introductory level and four subsequent levels that focus on learning for community members, technicians, drivers, fleet managers and other workers.
This set of voluntary standards is a first for the electric school bus industry, and has been peer-reviewed by over 50 experts. Since many of the same electrical safety best practices for electric school bus operations and maintenance are transferable to vehicles in similar weight classes, this resource may also be transferable to other MHD electric vehicle segments. Other standards that could also be adapted for MHDVs include: American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Standards: Zero-Emission Bus Maintenance Training, National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Electrified Propulsion Vehicles (xEV) High-Voltage Electrical Safety Standards, Electric Vehicle Standards Council (EVSC) Certified Electric Vehicle Technician Standards, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70E: Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, and Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Standards.
As we accelerate the zero-emission transition, we must think about training early and often. This transition offers an opportunity to recruit and engage non-traditional workers including women and people with disabilities. We can implement positive changes in this new era to reskill existing workers and also engage new workers through widely available training. By collectively developing a core set of learning outcomes and objectives to facilitate the development of high-quality training programs, we can set the stage for an MHD electric vehicle transition that prioritizes safety and instills confidence.
