Lansing Welcomes High School Students to Alternative Fuel Class

High school students from the Eaton Independent School District Vocational Automotive Department attended a sixteen-hour class on alternative fuels at Lansing Community College. Three high school instructors as well as an assistant instructor were also in attendance to study the characteristics of alternative fuels including ethanol, biodiesel, methanol and synthetic fuels, natural gas, and propane. New vehicle technologies such as hybrid vehicles, fuel cell vehicles, and electric vehicles were also discussed to give participants a detailed overview of alternative fuels and advanced technology vehicles.

As part of the class, students also researched alternative fuel vehicles using the Alternative Fuel Data Center Web site (http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/). Extensive review of gaseous fuel use was covered including the installation of propane, natural gas, and hydrogen gaseous fuels on vehicles. The laboratory section of the class allowed students the opportunity to examine the installation of natural gas technologies on vehicles and perform exhaust gas analysis on vehicles with both new and older engine management technologies.

Participating high school instructors were Mike Wightman, Matthew Diamond, and Stewart Woollard. The participating assistant instructor was Chelsea Matthews. James Pitts, alternative fuels instructor for Lansing Community College, presented the class. The course was certified by the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC), and students received a Certificate of Training from West Virginia University.