The shift toward widespread EV adoption has also impacted automotive education. We spoke with Ed Hicks, Automotive Technology Instructor at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC), about the development of the school's EV program and their use of The Switch Lab EV and curriculum.
Changing Times: The Evolution of Automotive Education
Hicks spent more than 30 years as an automotive technician for a local GM dealership. "I arrived at MGCCC in 2012," he says. "And what I've seen over the last five years is that everybody is talking about EVs. We were sort of left in the weeds — the title of our program is 'Modern Automotive Technology', but the lack of EV focus had a negative impact on our recruitment."
One forward-looking administrator suggested the Switch Lab EV program and curriculum, and after a few months of consideration, Hicks reached a decision: "Let's dip our toes in it."
The program was an immediate success. "We now have 64 students in our program," says Hicks. "We have doubled enrollment. We have wait lists now because we have such high interest." MGCCC has even created its own EV Club, comprised of eight or 10 passionate students who come in and work on the Switch before school starts. The College has also purchased a second Switch vehicle to keep up with demand.
Creating an EV Classroom
According to Hicks, "The Switch Lab bent over backward to provide us with everything we need". This includes the kit for the EV itself, along with a curriculum that includes 25 EV textbooks, online instructor resources, and Switch Community Access. Hicks highlights the role of the community in helping him build an EV program. "One of the things that absolutely worked is that they have a forum," he says. "You can read through there and find previous problems and questions from different instructors."
Of course, knowledge is only half the battle: MGCCC needed to create a classroom environment that supported learning for both traditional gas and diesel engines and their electric counterparts. Hicks found a simple solution. "Everything now revolves around electricity," he says. "I ask my students to name a subsystem that involves electronics — every system does. The knowledge flows well to diesel and gas engines." To help students get the most from The Switch Lab vehicle, Hicks schedules eight weeks for the actual build, which follows two semesters of electrical training. "They put it together and dismantle it every year," he says. "They get to access every bit of the car." Hicks also adopted a hybrid-type learning format to give students more hands-on time with the EV. "I can tell them to go through a 45- minute lecture at home, and they are ready the next day."Making the Switch to EV Education
With growing interest and full class lists, The Switch Lab EV has proven successful for MGCCC, giving students access to another career and technology pathway (CTE) that will serve them well in changing automotive environments.
Hicks has nothing but positive feedback for The Switch Lab program. "If you want to incorporate it, it's extremely easy," he says. "The only thing you need is the vehicle, and you have access to the curriculum. The company is constantly changing and tweaking the program, making it better."
If you want to enroll in the program at MGCCC, meanwhile, you're out of luck. "Our spring semester starts in 2026 — and the list is already full and closed."
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