NCMS to Develop Curriculum for Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Excel Institute Students to Receive State-of-the-Art Automotive Training

ANN ARBOR, Mich., April 28 -- The National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) has received federal funding to continue its successful collaboration with the Excel Institute based in Washington, DC. NCMS will work with the Excel Institute to develop automotive technician training for Alternative Fuel Vehicles (AFV). This training will include vehicles powered by natural gas, propane, ethanol, biodiesel, hybrids and hydrogen.

"The work of automotive service technicians has evolved from simple mechanics to high technology. With the advent of new power technologies for automobiles, the need for advanced training will continue to grow," says NCMS Senior Vice President Rebecca Taylor. "Our role in the development of new technologies fits naturally with the growth of advanced technologies at the Excel Institute."

The Excel Institute has developed a two-year workplace skills program which provides basic literacy education, workplace counseling, and on-the-job training. This program helps individuals gain the skills necessary to become automotive technicians certified by The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE.)

Federal funding has enabled NCMS to create a computer training lab, provided needed shop training equipment, and provided a fully developed web site with series of web-based e-learning modules to supplement Excel's instructor led courses.

This initiative allows Excel Institute students to migrate to the new and emerging technologies that will become commonplace in our automotive vehicles.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates there will be an annual shortage of 35,000 automotive technicians by 2010. This anticipated shortage coupled with the environmental and energy conservation demands of the 21st century, makes this collaborative effort extremely timely.

About NCMS

NCMS is the largest cross-industry collaborative research and development consortium in North America, and is the only consortial effort in the U.S. devoted exclusively to manufacturing technologies, processes and practices. NCMS has more than 18 years of experience in the formation and management of complex, multi-partner collaborative R&D programs, and is backed by corporate members representing virtually every sector of the manufacturing community.

About The Excel Institute

The Excel Institute is a two-year workplace skills program providing a professional staff, exciting curriculum, basic literacy education, automotive training, workplace counseling, and on-the-job training in Washington, DC.

For more information about the NCMS Government Partnerships please contact Rebecca Taylor at 202-544-9244, rebeccat@ncms.org , or customercare@ncms.org or visit www.ncms.org .