Fueling Change

Consult

The Fueling Change project is focused on improving EV-related information and awareness, particularly among members of under-represented communities, with emphasis on rural, northern, and remote areas, and including persons with disabilities, Indigenous persons, youth, and seniors with flexibility and age-related mobility challenges.

The Consultation Phase of the Fueling Change project has included a Focus Group with Indigenous Elders and a Canada-wide Online Survey, both aimed at sharing experiences, understanding, opinions and attitudes about electric vehicles.  The primary intent of these consultations is to identify areas of positive experience, concerns, and misconceptions relating to EV adoption, and to then use this information to inform the development of online courses which will be offered free starting January 2024.

In July 2023, the Fueling Change project invited Canadians to take our online survey about their understanding of electric vehicles (EV) and Canada’s EV targets.  The survey received 650 responses from diverse regions of Canada, as shown in the map above.

In September 2023, the Project engaged with community-recognized Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers in a Focus Group. Focus group participants were recruited through BCIT’s Indigenous Initiatives and Partnerships and represented Indigenous communities from across British Columbia, including Squamish,  Nak’azdli Whut’en, and Gitxsan Nations.

These knowledge sharing and consultation activities will extend to Community Learning Events and continue to provide a feedback mechanism for updates to the online courses.

All of the free courses in the Fueling Change program are BCIT badged courses.  Courses may be taken in any order. MOOC – 0390 – Purchasing and Driving an Electric Vehicle is recommended to be taken before the other courses, as it has foundational knowledge about EVs that is assumed in the other courses.

Purchasing and Driving an Electric Vehicle

This entry-level course will introduce the basics of electric vehicle (EV) ownership, exploring topics around buying, operating, and charging. We look at various EV myths and how developing EV ownership data is assisting vehicle purchasers in making sound decisions armed with factual knowledge. This course explores EV adoption among underrepresented communities including persons with disabilities, Indigenous persons, and youth with an emphasis on rural and remote areas. This course is assembled with lived experience from BCIT’s Applied Research, School of Transportation and industry partners, as well as with survey data from BCIT’s nationwide survey around barriers to EV adoption. Road transportation accounts for 20% of Canada’s total greenhouse emissions; this course, by building awareness and public confidence around EV ownership can assist Canadians understand EV adoption while assisting Canada meet its 2035 target of all new light-duty vehicle sales to be a zero-emission vehicle.

Course Details

Course number: MOOC-0390
Course title: Purchasing and Driving an Electric Vehicle
Prerequisites: None
Completion award: Digital Badge and printable Statement of Completion
Registration fee: None

Audience

Anyone wanting to know about electric vehicles and the effects of zero-emission vehicle roll out.

Delivery details

This is a self-study online course with no instructional support.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Discuss motivation and challenges for electric vehicle ownership.
2. List community support around electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure.
3. Explain EV charging and charge station etiquette.
4. Discuss driving techniques to help optimize range.
5. Describe typical electric vehicle maintenance requirements.
6. Explain considerations for new and used electric vehicle purchase.

Time commitment

This course will take you between 10 – 12 hours to complete.

Completion Award

• Statement of Completion
• Digital Badge

To Register

• If you are new to BCIT, you will be required to create a BCIT account before registering for your course.
• Once you receive your BCIT ID (A0…) log in and register for your course.

Once Registered

Note: If you are creating an account for the first time, it may take up to 24 hours before you are able to log in to BCIT to access your course.

1. Access your online course at learn.bcit.ca.
2. Login with your BCIT my.bcit.ca email address and password.
3. Scroll down to your My Courses listing and click on the course link.

Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

This course builds on the basics of electric vehicle knowledge and explores topics around EV infrastructures from charger installations to accessibility challenges solved by universal design principles. As more EVs enter into transportation circulation, power supply challenges and charger installation ideas are starting to emerge from real-world application. This allows new communities to benefit from lessons learned and implement plans to minimize early adaptor challenges. The course is assembled by a collaborative team from BCIT’s Applied Research, School of Transportation and industry partners, and including survey data from BCIT’s nationwide survey around barriers to EV adoption.  Our goal is to arm the learner with knowledge to engage in meaningful conversations around EV adoption and charger installations from public chargers to home chargers and multi-unit residential buildings (MURB) by gaining a deeper understanding of the power grid and charger requirements.

Course Details

Course number: MOOC-0391
Course title: Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
Prerequisites: None
Completion award: Digital Badge and printable Statement of Completion
Registration fee: None

Audience

Anyone wanting to know about electric vehicle charging and how power distribution networks will support future EV users’ unique needs and challenges over Canada’s diverse geographical regions.

Delivery details

This is a self-study online course with no instructional support.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Discuss electric vehicle charger installations.
2. Discuss grid implications of electric vehicle charging.
3. Explain data network role with electric vehicle charging.
4. Identify electric vehicle energy management system (EVEMS) requirements.
5. Identify challenges and solutions for inclusive access to EV charging.

Time commitment

This course will take you between 10 – 12 hours to complete.

Completion Award

• Statement of Completion
• Digital Badge

To Register

• If you are new to BCIT, you will be required to create a BCIT account before registering for your course.
• Once you receive your BCIT ID (A0…) log in and register for your course.

Once Registered

Note: If you are creating an account for the first time, it may take up to 24 hours before you are able to log in to BCIT to access your course.

1. Access your online course at learn.bcit.ca.
2. Login with your BCIT my.bcit.ca email address and password.
3. Scroll down to your My Courses listing and click on the course link.

Electric Vehicle Industries

This course builds on the basics of electric vehicle knowledge and explores topics around developing industries that exist to support electric vehicles from manufacturing to repair to recycling. The course is assembled with lived experience from BCIT’s Applied Research, School of Transportation and industry partners, as well as with survey data from BCIT’s nationwide survey around barriers to EV adoption. We take a deeper look into the vehicle manufacturing processes, the life of an EV battery, battery repair and reuse opportunities, battery recycling processes, and the transitioning automotive support sectors. The goal of this course is to highlight that while during this technological shift some industries will be challenged, but also to highlight the developing opportunities for those looking to upskill or reskill and support those planning to future proof their career trajectories or business ventures.

Course Details

Course number: MOOC-0392
Course title: Electric Vehicle Industries
Prerequisites: None
Completion award: Digital Badge and printable Statement of Completion
Registration fee: None

Audience

Anyone wanting to know about electric vehicles, how they are made, the battery lifecycle, and the industries developing to support the EV market and transitioning to mass EV adoption.

Delivery details

This is a self-study online course with no instructional support.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Discuss vehicle manufacturing process.
2. Discuss the lifecycle pathways of an EV battery.
3. Identify battery repair and reuse requirements.
4. Explain battery recycling process.
5. Describe the transitioning vehicle support industries.
6. Explain transitioning automotive sector career opportunities.

Time commitment

This course will take you between 10 – 12 hours to complete.

Completion Award

• Statement of Completion
• Digital Badge

To Register

• If you are new to BCIT, you will be required to create a BCIT account before registering for your course.
• Once you receive your BCIT ID (A0…) log in and register for your course.

Once Registered

Note: If you are creating an account for the first time, it may take up to 24 hours before you are able to log in to BCIT to access your course.

1. Access your online course at learn.bcit.ca.
2. Login with your BCIT my.bcit.ca email address and password.
3. Scroll down to your My Courses listing and click on the course link.

Future Zero Emission Vehicle Development

This course builds on the basics of electric vehicle knowledge and presents some developing technologies related to the EV rollout. The course is assembled by a collaborative team from BCIT’s Applied Research, School of Transportation and industry partners, and including survey data from BCIT’s nationwide survey around barriers to EV adoption. The goal is to highlight areas of public interest and concern about where the EV industry is heading. We explore some of the emerging battery technologies, faster charging technologies, autonomous charging and feasibility of prototypes making it to production. We recognize the viability of hydrogen vehicles and their role in reducing greenhouse gases while highlighting the need to understand the overall hydrogen strategy from fuel creation to emissions generated at each step of the hydrogen economy.

Course Details

Course number: MOOC-0393
Course title: Future Zero Emission Vehicle Development
Prerequisites: None
Completion award: Digital Badge and printable Statement of Completion
Registration fee: None

Audience

Anyone wanting to know about developments on the horizon relating to zero-emission vehicles and related technologies.

Delivery details

This is a self-study online course with no instructional support.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Describe emerging faster charger technology.
2. Identify future battery development.
3. Discuss autonomous charging.
4. Recognize hydrogen energy development.

Time commitment

This course will take you between 10 – 12 hours to complete.

Completion Award

• Statement of Completion
• Digital Badge

To Register

• If you are new to BCIT, you will be required to create a BCIT account before registering for your course.
• Once you receive your BCIT ID (A0…) log in and register for your course.

Once Registered

Note: If you are creating an account for the first time, it may take up to 24 hours before you are able to log in to BCIT to access your course.

1. Access your online course at learn.bcit.ca.
2. Login with your BCIT my.bcit.ca email address and password.
3. Scroll down to your My Courses listing and click on the course link.

Events

EVs in Northern and Rural Canada: Challenges, Misconceptions, and Lessons Learned 

BCIT Fueling Change project researchers and EV community members explored the unique challenges and opportunities surrounding electric vehicle (EV) adoption in rural and northern areas, and aspects of owning and driving an EV in northern communities. 

2023 Science Literacy Week: Fueling Change – EV Charge Stations and Accessibility.

The ZEVAI project team was joined by EV charger accessibility and technology experts from BCIT and the community to give a presentation and interactive demonstration with EVs and chargers and assistive mobility devices, as well as opportunities for on-site discussion and Q&A with experts.