Up Your Voltage HEV / Electric Drive Part 1
This is a 5-Day class held in Worcester, MA. After teaching hybrid technology in classrooms for years, I kept hearing the same request “I want an extensive hands-on class”. OK! It is here. Up Your Voltage! Classes have been held since June 2006. Everyone is better than the last as ACDC learns more and adds more value.
ACDC will train you on hybrids from Honda, Toyota, Ford, Volkswagen, and Hyundai.
All of the ACDC fleet of hybrids will be here. Get yourself to Massachusetts and spend up to two weeks (you are taking week #1) studying, testing, scanning, scoping, servicing, and taking these EMVs apart. All I ask is that they run when you leave. ACDC has lots of parts to work with, scan tools, and scopes. The class is based on today’s technology and teaching methods. What you are missing in your training will be answered.
Rent a vehicle and see New England, have your spouse fly into Worcester for the weekend, or take the train to Boston and learn the history of our founding Fathers and Mothers. Lots to do here. Everything is a short drive away.
If you are a Graduate of “Up Your Voltage” and are currently working at a shop that services hybrids, you may able to test out and attend week #2 of Up Your Voltage EV” and skip the first week. Call the office and we can explain more.
5-Day HEV at ACDC Week One of a Two Week Class
Cost
Cost
Total is $4,500. Call Office to enroll or see if there is a seat available at 508-826-4546 or Email Craig@fixhybrid.com.
All classes, drinks, and most meals are included. Lunches on class days, and once a week a great dinner out with the ACDC staff (some dinners will be on your own and also on the weekend), snacks, all PowerPoint training materials on a 16 gig jump drive, bring your laptop, the ACDC 360 page Hybrid/EV manual, EMV College Level Color Textbook and our L3 Color Prep Guide, use of shop equipment, an ACDC Master Hybrid Qualification. ACDC Hospitality includes a once a week (usually a Thursday night) great dinner and a visit to a local museum about Worcester role in a revolutionary war.
Before Class Starts
Optional
You can purchase ahead of time a Glove Safety Kit that includes High Voltage Gloves, Leather protectors, and a storage bag. ACDC has an in-house store with numerous products. Wait until class is over to buy equipment, many students have found items at ACDC that were better and cheaper than what they bought the month before class.
If you pre-qualify you will receive an “ACDC Master Hybrid Technician” certificate upon completion.
Drive, Fly, Bus, Train, or Motorcycle your way to Worcester, Massachusetts (Boston is 40 miles to the East). Get ready for a great first-rate, fun, and exciting class on Monday morning. We have cool and useful stuff.
Day 1 8:00 –4:30 pm.
Day one is all about making sure you are up to speed with electrical systems and modern diagnostic approaches to making sure all things electrical are firmly understood. Depending on the class make up, we will not start on the hybrid training until everyone is at the same level.
- Equipment training with the following: PICO scope, milliohm meters, insulation testers, DVOM, etc.
- HV Safety is taught
- CAT III rating and how they apply to leads, and other connector ends.
- The class starts by reviewing our new EMV College Level book
- We will follow chapters 1 – 15 during the week
- What Makes a Hybrid different from a conventional car?
- Safety & Equipment (Including HV Gloves, Power Flow, and Pico Scope
- We will be using a Honda Civic (2003 – 2005) Hybrid to learn the Honda IMA to introduce to your students
- HV Battery Systems & NiMH
Day 2 8:00 – 4:30 pm
After all the electrical training is done, we jump right into the Honda HEVs and Honda HV components. High Voltage Honda batteries will be disassembled and reassembled. The FEAR of high voltage will be put to rest. After a catered lunch, we will continue with Honda HEV technology. Many Honda lessons will apply to other makes.
- Hyundai Sonata System & VW HEV System Review
- HVAC
- Electric Air Conditioning Compressor
- Equipment for HEV
- Atkinson Cycle / LIVC
Day 3 8:00 to 4:30 pm
Ford HEVs will be studied today. Road testing is done by teams with an ACDC instructor with you. We will study the first generation Escape HEV and the newer tech of the C-Max HEV (same as the second generation Ford Fusion HEV. The eCVT will be taught, along with the tear down of both eCVT. More HV components will be studied and explained. Scan tools will be used every day, along with the PICO scope.
- Intro to Toyota on the Toyota Prius (2004 – 2009)
- NiMH HV Battery Packs and Components
- Rebuilding and reconditioning HV Battery Packs. Cell / Module Testing
- Contactors, High Voltage Leak Test and Detection Circuit
- DC-DC Converter Operation
- Prius Transmission Construction and Function
Day 4 8:00 to 4:30 pm
Toyota HEV training and more components. We will review carefully what we did as teams over the last three days. More battery training and workshop exercises plus more time using scan tools while driving the hybrid fleet. The ACDC shop will allow you access to lifts, tools, equipment, and scanners, (this is a well-equipped shop) and give you time to carefully remove the HV battery packs, inverters, HV cables, DC-DC converters, and other EMV parts that are not used in ICE vehicles. We will test them as we go. We will have many group lessons. This class is a lot like boot camp, as it is total immersion.
- eCVT function (Toyota and Ford Systems) / Resolvers
- Electric Motor / Generator construction and function
- Testing M/G with Milliohm Meter, Insulation Tester, and Stabilant 22a
- Ford C-Max (same as Fusion) and Escape HEV
- Regenerative Braking
- High Voltage Battery Packs … Li-ion
- Li-ion Cell Balancing
Day 5 8:00 to 4:30 pm
We will finish the Toyota Training and move on to the VW Jetta HEV and the Kia/Hyundai system. VW has a DCT and Turbo. After lunch, any ACDC Hybrid that did not make it into the shop will be examined. The end of class is a group review of the week. A written test at about 2 pm. Al the test questions will be reviewed. Once this class is over, you can sign up for tech support. More about that on the QSP page.
But wait, there is more. Up Your Voltage, EV is part 2. After this class you can stay in Worcester and take part two the next week, or come back later after you have gained more experience on HEVs.
- Towing / Jump Starting / Preventative Maintenance
- Class Test after lunch. We will review any incorrect answers
- Get caught up on any items from the week
- Curriculum Writing
- Test Question Writing
- Education Support Program (ESP)
- Review week one. Class ends at 4:30 PM
Weekend Off
What happens on the weekend off in Worcester. If you want to return home (assuming you live nearby, you can). Rent a car and see New England (have your spouse fly into Worcester for the weekend). Take the train to Boston and learn the history of our founding Fathers and Mothers. Lots to do here. Everything is a short drive away.
Updated 03/09/25