One of the biggest challenges to the recent innovations in the auto industry is making sure auto technicians can also keep up. It used to be that just about anyone with a couple of wrenches could take care of at least some maintenance and repairs on their vehicles at home. As automotive technology changed, drivers took on less of the responsibility of keeping their vehicles running. With the inclusion of electric vehicles on the market, items like a Ford Extended Warranty are even more important due to the new technology being used.

Luckily, Ford is taking steps to ensure that service techs around the country are ready to service and repair EVs. Ford’s premier training programs now include courses on EVs. This new initiative is called Automotive Student Service Educational Training (ASSET) and involves a partnership between The Ford Motor Company and local colleges and technical schools.

The first three of these ASSET programs to include EVs are located at the Pima Community College (Tucson, AZ), Wake Technical College (Raleigh, NC), and Gwinnett Technical College (Lawrenceville, GA).

Ford’s EV Curriculum

On the one hand, EVs are easier to maintain than their gas counterparts. The extinction of many moving parts means there’s no need for oil changes, spark plug replacements, and more. On the other hand, the inclusion of new electrical systems is a foreign concept to many mechanics.

To make sure that Ford Extended Warranty techs are up to the task, the new curriculum includes both time in the classroom and time in the shop. Students who enroll in these programs will cover a variety of relevant topics:

• High voltage systems safety
• Hybrid vehicle components and operation
• Battery electric vehicle (BEV)
• Components and operations
• Introduction to high-voltage battery service
• Hybrid and Electric vehicle operation and diagnosis
• And more

In only two years, ASSET students can earn 100% of their Ford Service Technician Specialty Training (STST) credentials, along with finishing an associate’s degree in automotive technology and earning a full year of work at a Ford or Lincoln Dealership. Students can even earn the High Voltage System Certification along with the 12 existing certifications in the ASSET catalog.

Mobile Service Tech Certification

Not everyone can attend a full-on ASSET program right away. To help make sure that service technicians around the country can keep up, Ford is offering a Mobile Service Technician Certification. The certification program acts as a pathway for students at one of the 300+ dealerships in the country operating mobile service fleets and working Ford Extended Warranty programs.

While the certification only helps students deal with maintenance and light repair tasks, it helps get them more comfortable with new systems. It also puts them one step closer to taking on the full ASSET curriculum.

Drivers who are concerned that they won’t be able to find service techs for their new Ford EVs or Ford Extended Warranty programs can rest at ease: Ford is taking all of the necessary steps to ensure there are skilled mechanics out there ready to take on the challenge of a new generation of Ford automobiles.