Hydrogen BC welcomes first academic member Vancouver Community College
August 24, 2021
VANCOUVER – Hydrogen BC (HyBC) is pleased to announce that Vancouver Community College (VCC) is the first academic member to join us to promote and accelerate the use of hydrogen technologies in B.C. The partnership will support VCC’s future direction of providing technician training for hydrogen fuel.
VCC is one of the first public community colleges in British Columbia. With three campuses and 15,000 students, the college delivers more than 120 programs in automotive trades, health sciences, culinary arts/baking, business/hospitality, technology, hair design, and academic upgrading.
The automotive trades training programs at VCC are among the largest and oldest in Vancouver, and program success comes from the college’s ability to innovate and keep up with employers needs, and provincial mandates, such as climate initiatives. To this end, VCC is in the initial planning stages for technician training for Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), and the college is currently working with a major automotive manufacturer on the development of FCEV training programs and will begin to offer the new curriculum as part of its current programming in the coming months.
The specific goals of the Hydrogen BC partnership will be to work together to provide technician training on the repair, service, and maintenance of FCEVs for light, medium and heavy-duty applications.
Quotes
Ajay Patel, President & CEO, Vancouver Community College:
“VCC is excited to be the first post-secondary to join Hydrogen BC. We look forward to working together to implement the province’s CleanBC strategy by providing education and training opportunities to VCC students related to Fuel cell electric vehicles. This is just another great example of how VCC stays ahead of the curve when it comes to training our students for B.C.’s future”.
Colin Armstrong, Chair, Hydrogen BC; President and CEO, HTEC:
“We are thrilled to see the VCC embrace hydrogen and participate in Hydrogen BC. Education and familiarization with hydrogen are important steps towards building the low carbon future we want to live in and leave behind for future generations.”
About Hydrogen BC
Hydrogen BC is the regional branch of the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (CHFCA) in British Columbia. Established with the support of the BC Government, Hydrogen BC is a public-private partnership mandated to support the growth of the BC low-carbon hydrogen energy ecosystem by coordinating the deployment of new supply infrastructure and applications across the province. In addition, Hydrogen BC works to ensure the safe handling of hydrogen and the safe operation of hydrogen equipment and FCEVs by sharing best practices developed in Canada and abroad.
About Vancouver Community College
Vancouver Community College is a public community college in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Founded in 1965, it is the largest and oldest community college in British Columbia, offering 78 certificate programs, 28 diploma programs, and 3 bachelor’s degree programs. VCC has three campuses in Vancouver and Annacis Island.
About the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (CHFCA)
The Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (CHFCA) is a national, non-profit association that supports Canadian companies, governments, research institutions and academia in the development, demonstration and deployment of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies in Canada and overseas. Established in 2009, the CHFCA has over 100 members across Canada as well as regional branches in British Columbia (Hydrogen BC), Quebec (Hydrogène Québec) and Ontario (Hydrogen Business Council of Canada). The CHFCA’s members specialize in fuel cell stack development, hydrogen production, hydrogen fueling infrastructure, energy storage, vehicle manufacturing, components and materials, research, engineering and consulting.