The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda has approved the establishment of an Electric Vehicle Maintenance and Training Laboratory at the Antigua and Barbuda College of Advanced Studies (ABCAS), as Government continues to build the technical skills and infrastructure required to support the country’s transition towards cleaner and lower-emission transportation.
The proposal was presented by the Minister for Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs, the Honourable Michael Joseph, through the Department of Environment under the Sustainable Low-Emission Island Mobility (SLIM) Project.
Cabinet noted that while the number of electric vehicles operating in Antigua and Barbuda continues to increase, local capacity to diagnose, service and safely repair high-voltage electric vehicle systems remains limited. The establishment of the laboratory is intended to address that skills gap and reduce dependence on overseas technical assistance.
The new laboratory will provide a permanent facility for practical instruction in electric and hybrid vehicle systems, high-voltage safety, battery technology, electrical diagnostics and related maintenance procedures.
ABCAS was selected as the host institution to ensure that the equipment and curriculum are incorporated into the country’s continuing technical education programmes and can be used to train successive cohorts of students, instructors, automotive technicians and other relevant personnel.
Cabinet considers the initiative particularly important as Antigua and Barbuda expands the use of electric vehicles. Developing local technical expertise will help reduce vehicle downtime and maintenance costs while creating new employment and skills-development opportunities in an emerging area of the automotive industry.
Cabinet approved the acquisition of a comprehensive package of equipment and instructional resources for the laboratory.
The facility will include an advanced electric vehicle training system, battery laboratory kits, relay laboratory kits, high-voltage safety equipment and specialised tools for practical instruction.
Electric vehicle and electricity curriculum packages, textbooks, online instructor resources, certification study materials and access to an instructional portal will also form part of the programme.
The equipment will be handed over to ABCAS for custody and educational use under a Memorandum of Understanding setting out arrangements for its maintenance, inventory control, access, reporting and continued use for approved training purposes.
Cabinet also approved two complementary training programmes designed to ensure that the laboratory can become operational with appropriately trained local instructors.
The first will be a ten-day Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Service and Repair Train-the-Trainer programme for 15 participants. Training will cover high-voltage safety, battery procedures, electrical diagnostics, heating and cooling systems, braking and suspension systems, fault diagnosis and hybrid vehicle technology.
Successful participants will receive a certificate of competence and may become eligible to pursue further formal certification.
A second five-day advanced workshop at ABCAS will provide practical training for up to ten participants using the laboratory’s electric vehicle training system and associated equipment.
The total estimated investment in the laboratory, curriculum packages and the two training programmes is approximately US$128,189, or EC$346,110.
The expenditure will be met from approved SLIM Project resources, with procurement and implementation being undertaken in accordance with the applicable financial and procurement requirements.
Cabinet authorised the Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs, through the Department of Environment, to finalise the procurement, training and handover arrangements necessary to operationalise the laboratory.
Cabinet welcomed the initiative as an important intersection between the Government’s education, technical and vocational training, environmental and sustainable-development objectives.
The establishment of the laboratory will allow Antigua and Barbuda to develop home-grown expertise in an area that is expected to become increasingly important as electric and hybrid vehicles become more prevalent.
Cabinet also noted that locating the facility at ABCAS will ensure that the investment has a lasting educational benefit by providing young Antiguans and Barbudans, existing automotive technicians and instructors with opportunities to acquire skills relevant to the changing automotive industry.
The Government reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening technical and vocational education at ABCAS, while ensuring that the country’s workforce is equipped to participate in the new employment and entrepreneurial opportunities being created by technological change and the transition to a lower-emission economy.
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Cabinet Approves Establishment of Electric Vehicle Maintenance and Training Laboratory at ABCAS.