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Powering up Ontario’s workforce with the Electric Drive Vehicle Technician program
The field of clean transport is the fastest growing industry in Canada’s clean energy sector, with hybrid vehicle sales in 2025 up 60% over the previous year. With more green vehicles on the road, the demand for qualified EV technicians is rising exponentially, and Durham College (DC) is helping to meet it.
Last fall, we launched our newest future-focused program; the two-year Electric Drive Vehicle Technician diploma. One of only two full-time college EV programs in Ontario, it gives students the technical knowledge and hands-on learning they need to diagnose, repair and service the high voltage systems used in power electric and hybrid vehicles. When the program’s first cohort graduates in 2027, they’ll be career-ready to close this critical skill gap.
“Our graduates will hit the ground running with a fundamental understanding of how electric vehicles work, and how to service them safely,” said program coordinator Mike Frederick.
The students learn about hybrid vehicles in the state-of-the-art Vanhaverbeke Family EV Training Centre at our Whitby campus, but they also develop an understanding of traditional cars and light trucks. This blend of knowledge and experience will give them a competitive advantage in the job market.
“When it comes to a hybrid or electric vehicle, 80% of the car is the same. They still have brakes, they still have tires, they still have a cooling system; so, we teach them all that.”
Graduates of the program will also be eligible to enter DC’s Motive Power Technician program in its second year, allowing them to secure a second diploma as well as their second-year apprenticeship attestation; all in just three school years.
“Job security will never be an issue for these students,” said Frederick.
That’s music to the ears of Jaylen Shepherd. He inherited his love for cars from his father and grandfather. Determined to turn that passion into a career, he realized that gaining an understanding of the increasingly popular green vehicles would be invaluable.
“Everything is going electric. Everyone’s going to need to know how to work on EV’s and hybrids, and this program is giving us skills that many other mechanics won’t have,” said Shepherd.
Indeed, these DC graduates will have the know-how to service any vehicle that runs on an electric battery, whether it’s a car or a motorcycle, a truck or a bus. That adaptability appealed to Noman Shakeel, who hopes to open his own garage where he can specialize in EV service.
“It’s not just about cars anymore. There are electric lawnmowers out there! It’s a whole new field,” he said.
From students like Jaylen and Noman to the professionals completing DC and Achēv’s new EV upskilling program, our Whitby campus is powering the future of Ontario’s automobile service.
“There are going to be all kinds of revenue stream opportunities with electric vehicles,” said Frederick. “I don’t think they’re going anywhere. I think we’re going to have this technology for the rest of our lives.”