The micro courses are offered in collaboration with U of T Engineering and Porsche Cars Canada, establishing core competency in electro-mobility for all levels of Porsche Centre staff.
![[Professor Olivier Trescases (far right) stands in the University of Toronto Electric Vehicle Research Centre with (left to right) PhD Candidate, Zhe Gong; Wendy Baker, Associate Director Business Development, School of Continuing Studies; and Nick Cusimano, Research Associate. Trescases will teach a course on electric vehicles for Porsche Centre employees. (Photo: Porsche Canada)]](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/images/2022-05/picture1.jpg?itok=6wjfuome)
[Professor Olivier Trescases (far right) stands in the University of Toronto Electric Vehicle Research Centre with (left to right) PhD Candidate, Zhe Gong; Wendy Baker, Associate Director Business Development, School of Continuing Studies; and Nick Cusimano, Research Associate. Trescases will teach a course on electric vehicles for Porsche Centre employees. (Photo: Porsche Canada)]
The School of Continuing Studies (SCS), in partnership with U of T Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) professor Olivier Trescases, has collaborated with Porsche Cars Canada to develop micro courses in electric vehicles (EVs) for the approximately 300 dealer staff across the country, including senior management.
The EV sector is experiencing strong growth: in 2021, zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) — accounted for more than 5% of new vehicle registrations in Canada for the first time. The recent Canadian federal budget calls for EVs to account for 60% of cars sold in 2030 and 100% by 2035. Companies such as Porsche have front-row seats to the escalation in driver interest.
“Customers are now coming into their showroom with sophisticated questions,” says Prof. Trescases. “When a customer asks you, ‘Why don't I get the full power fast-charging when the ambient is five degrees?’ — well, you need a certain level of expertise to answer that.”
Porsche Cars Canada turned to SCS and Prof. Trescases—who is the Director of the University of Toronto Electric Vehicle Research Centre—to develop a training program that would help Canadian dealership staff get up to speed, and develop deeper knowledge about EVs. “We’re proud to partner with Porsche Cars Canada in providing this highly tailored, leading-edge training,” says SCS Dean Dr. Catherine Chandler-Crichlow. “Learning and innovation are at the heart of SCS, and we are excited to help prepare Porsche Centre staff to meet the challenges and opportunities in electro-mobility.”
The new course consists of two levels: primary and expert, both run independently through SCS. They aim to establish competency in foundational electrical concepts and then focus on the core EV technologies: the charging and battery systems, powertrain, motor, the electrical grid, second-life application of batteries, as well as more forward-looking innovations such as vehicle-to-grid and wireless charging.
“We are looking forward to our collaboration with Porsche Cars Canada at this pivotal moment for the automotive industry,” says Christopher Yip, Dean of U of T Engineering. “The adoption of electric vehicles is one important step in lowering our carbon footprint, and Porsche’s industry leadership together with U of T research expertise will model a path forward for EVs in the transportation sector — not only to support government emission targets and increasing consumer demand, but ultimately to secure a sustainable future.”
Dr. Chandler-Crichlow agrees. “Investing in your people results in a clear return. At SCS, we are passionate about helping organizations achieve their distinct training goals. Our programs are data-driven, and can help fill the skills and knowledge gaps that employers and teams are facing,” she says. “In collaboration with U of T partners and learning design professionals, we’ve designed training solutions that enable organizations such as Porsche Cars Canada to confidently build the human capacity and meet the challenges of a changing economy.”