Automotive instructors from all over the State of Nevada gathered this week in Las Vegas at the Community College of Southern Nevada (CCSN) to participate in a two-day conference which included a variety of presentations concerning alternative fuels. Nearly sixty educators attended. NAFTC materials were used to conduct the classes.

Lead instructor Dave Crowley conducted the “Train-the-Trainers” workshop with the intention that instructors could return to the classroom and begin challenging their students to learn about the use of alternative fuels in North America and the latest fuel-related technology.

NAFTC file photo Vahan Basmajian (left, standing) from MEGATECH Corporation demonstrates an oil-less, glass cylinder engine to CCSN instructor Dave Crowley (right, standing) and an attentive audience at CCSN’s two-day conference.

Three local experts presented their unique and valuable perspectives. City of Las Vegas Fleet Manager Dan Hyde related his experiences in leasing two Honda Hydrogen Fuel Cell vehicles for the past year. Frank Giordano, one of the true national authorities on biodiesel, shared his expertise. Giordano has supervised maintenance on more than 1,300 buses belonging to the Clark County School District. His fleet has been fueled by B20 since 2001. MIT-trained, former NASA rocket scientist turned alternative fuels proponent Vahan Basmajian demonstrated his oil-less, glass cylinder engine running on various fuels as all viewed the combustion events.

CCSN has been an NAFTC National Training Center since 2004.