IDEAL ZEV Workforce Pilot

IDEAL ZEV Workforce Pilot is sponsored by California Energy Commission. Provided funding for projects offering workforce training and development supporting zero-emission vehicles and related technologies in California.

Workforce Training and Development Workforce Training and Development Through Clean Transportation Program investments, the California Energy Commission helps workforce development and training entities start and expand programs to support workers in California’s zero-emission vehicle and related infrastructure sectors. California continues to lead the nation in expanding access to zero-emission transportation.

To meet the state’s need for a skilled workforce in this area, the California Energy Commission (CEC)’s Clean Transportation Program is investing in workforce training and development, working with a variety of public and private partners. Investments include expanding current programs and developing new programs to support workers in California’s zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) and related infrastructure sectors.

These investments support clean transportation and provide pathways to sustained clean-transportation job opportunities. Zero-Emission Vehicle Workforce Training and Development Strategy The Draft Zero-Emission Vehicle Workforce Training and Development Strategy defines the CEC’s vision for ZEV workforce development goals, objectives, and activities funded by the Clean Transportation Program.

It is intended to clarify the CEC's role in ZEV workforce development, recognize existing opportunities, identify workforce program objectives, and serve as a roadmap to building the career pathways necessary to support ZEVs and ZEV infrastructure. Active Workforce Training and Development Projects Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Workforce Assessment — University of California, Los Angeles Labor Center.

W orkforce assessment of the charging infrastructure labor market focusing on electric vehicle supply equipment installation and maintenance occupations. Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP) Fund — Employment Training Panel. Incentives to increase the number of EVITP-certified electricians in California.

Groups of employers, training agencies, workforce development boards, or professional/trade association/apprenticeship trainee committees may apply for awards of up to $300,000 to support EVITP certification. Electric School Bus Training Project — Cerritos Community College District. Develop and deliver electric school bus training for school district maintenance technicians and drivers.

Project overview . Transportation Electrification Training Project — California Conservation Corps. Develop curriculum for charging infrastructure installation, maintenance, and service.

Lectures and labs introduce electric vehicle technology, electrical principles, batteries, motors, control systems, charging infrastructure, and OSHA safety. Training is available at Conservation Corps Energy Centers locations in Fresno , Norwalk , and Sacramento .

Tribal Workforce Training and Development Projects Grant awards for projects that accelerate ZEV adoption among California Native American tribes by installing charging infrastructure, completing infrastructure planning, and/or EV workforce training and development were announced in November 2024. Projects with workforce development activities are listed below.

Accelerating Tribal EV Charging Infrastructure, Planning and Workforce Development (Bishop Paiute Tribe) — California Indian Manpower Consortium. Install chargers on the Bishop Paiute Tribe Reservation; create an EV charging blueprint to identify future build-out of charging infrastructure and fleet electrification; and deliver training to support ZEV industry careers.

Barona Tribal EV Infrastructure, Planning, and Workforce Training and Development Project — Barona Group of Capitan Grande Band of Mission Indians of the Barona Reservation. Install chargers on the Barona Band of Mission Indians Reservation, perform EV infrastructure development and fleet transition planning, and establish a workforce training program related to EV infrastructure installation.

Fort Mojave (AMPS) Electrification of Tribal Transportation Readiness Plan — Aha Macav Power Service. D raft an EV infrastructure planning blueprint and readiness plan, develop an EV opportunities portal, and deliver training courses related to ZEVs for the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe. Yurok Tribe EV Infrastructure Plan and Workforce Development — Yurok Tribe.

Expand EV capacity on the Yurok Reservation by developing a tribal EV infrastructure blueprint, installing chargers, and increasing tribal workforce capacity to operate and maintain the charging infrastructure.

Active Inclusive, Diverse, Equitable, Accessible and Local (IDEAL) ZEV Workforce Pilot Projects IDEAL ZEV Workforce Pilot projects support ZEVs, ZEV infrastructure, and ZEV-related commercial technologies in California, with a focus on priority populations. Grant awards were announced in February 2022, and include community colleges, local governments, and community-based organizations.

South Valley ZEV Talent Pipeline Project — Kern Community College District. Develop EV charging curricula and training to address skill gaps in EV charging installation, service, and replacement at the 21st Energy Center. Project Fact Sheet.

ZEV Service Technician Educational Pathway — Fresno City College. Develop a dual enrollment pathway program for the ZEV Service Technician Educational Pathway Project at three Fresno County high schools with existing automotive training programs. Course curriculum includes high voltage safety, electric motors, power inverters, battery construction and technologies, and regenerative braking.

Funding includes Switch Lab EV equipment at Central East High School, Kerman High School, and Reedley High School. ZEV Training for San Joaquin County — Housing Authority of the County of San Joaquin . Training for introductory ZEV careers and skill development.

Stipends provided for EV Charging Installation and Maintenance and EV Customer Service courses held at San Joaquin Delta Community College and the Green Economy Lab in Stockton, California. Regional EVSE Workforce Training and Development Program — County of Los Angeles.

Municipal electricians training for charger installation, operation, and service, including preparation for Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP) certification. Final curriculum will be posted on the Advanced Transportation and Logistics web portal and be available for all community colleges in California to utilize. ZEV Training Program for Communities and Businesses — California State University, Long Beach.

Develop ZEV Engineering Training Program including academic and laboratory training and provide tuition assistance. The 15-week curriculum includes introduction to ZEVs, energy conversion and storage, EV fundamentals, motors and controllers in EVs. ZEV Technology Training Program — Los Angeles Pierce College.

Develop ZEV training programs and provide tuition assistance across three areas: automotive, electronics, and environmental. California ZEV Engineering Workforce Pilot — California State University, Los Angeles. Hydrogen refueling station design, instruction, and hands-on training and light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicle fuel cell technology training.

Next Electric Vehicle Military Service Pilot Project — Green Paradigm Consulting, Inc. Electric vehicle charging technician training for California veterans, disabled veterans, and military personnel. Greening the Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics Industry — West Oakland Job Resource Center.

Partnership with the Northern California Teamsters Apprenticeship Training Program to provides high-road training for on- and off-road ZEV technologies in the freight sector. Building a ZEV Workforce for Public and Private Fleets — Municipal Equipment Maintenance Association, Inc . Develop curricula and conduct technician training on ZEV and charging infrastructure for public and private fleets in and near the City of Long Beach.

Statewide Online Electric Vehicle Training — The Latino Equity Advocacy and Policy Institute (LEAP) . Conduct ZEV transit training workshops throughout the state. Zero-Emission Technology Training — Sunline Transit Agency .

Develop and conduct EV and electric vehicle supply equipment assessment, training, and outreach Zero-Emission Transportation Manufacturing Grant awards for projects that increase in-state manufacturing of ZEVs, ZEV components and batteries, and ZEV charging or refueling equipment were announced in January 2023. Projects that included establishing workforce training programs are listed below.

Zero Emission Agricultural Tractors — Zimeno, Inc. Accelerate the production and deployment of zero-emission off-road equipment variants of the Monarch MK-V by installing a flexible manufacturing line. Develop work instructions for assembly technician training and provide more than 700 hours of technical training to new hires.

Zero-Emission Transportation Manufacturing — First Elemental Fuel, Inc. Create a new manufacturing line for light-duty vehicle hydrogen refueling stations and collaborate with California State University Los Angeles to develop a workforce internship and job training program.

ZEV Sustainable Equitable Employment Destination — Community Resource Project, Inc. Classroom-based hands-on training for ZEV manufacturing, maintenance and servicing, charging installation, operation, and service, as well as ZEV driving and operation. Completed May 2024. Final Report .

Zero-Emission Vehicle High School Pilot Project — Advanced Transportation Technology and Energy Center at Cerritos College. Developed a training program for high school students to increase their awareness of careers in clean transportation. A total of 3,750 students from 50 high schools participated in the program to build electric kit cars.

Completed April 2024. Final Report California Sustainable Freight Workforce Training — California State University, Long Beach. Identified workforce opportunities associated with the implementation of California’s Sustainable Freight Action Plan, including preparing career pathway maps and developing a Freight Workforce Development Pilot Project.

Completed March 2024. Final Report. Advanced Transportation Technology and Energy Center — San Diego Miramar College.

Over 160 technicians received alternative fuel vehicle technical training, and 15 community colleges received funding through this project. Program partners included the Southern California Regional Transit Training Consortium and Municipal Equipment Maintenance Association. Completed November 2019.

Final Report . Advanced Transportation and Logistics Initiative — San Diego Community College District. Administered funding for community college alternative fuel and advanced vehicle technology automotive programs to increase the number of technicians able to repair and maintain ZEVs.

Light-duty automotive programs funded were at Fresno City, Golden West, Los Medanos, Mt. San Jacinto, San Bernardino Valley, Santa Ana, and Southwestern colleges. Medium- and heavy-duty ZEV training programs funded were at: San Diego Miramar, Alameda, Fresno City, San Bernardino Valley, Shasta, and Santa Rosa colleges.

Completed March 2025. Final Report. Explore workforce opportunities using the ZEV Training Program Finder .

Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP) Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP) certification is required for most projects installing electric vehicle chargers funded by the CEC. For more information see the CEC’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP) Information webpage , or EVITP. org .

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Clean Transportation Program – ZEV Workforce Training and Development Workshop Clean Transportation Program Proposed Workforce Investments and Activities Workshop Workshop on Labor and Workforce For Second Assembly Bill 2127 Assessment Joint Workshop with the California Energy Commission and California Public Utilities Commission to discuss the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program Clean Transportation Funding Areas Fuels and Transportation Division: Workforce Clean Transportation Program Investment Plan Updates Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP) Information California Energy Commission Come be part of creating a clean, modern and thriving California.

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