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Good morning, Grid Connections listeners and welcome to a very special milestone episode
of the podcast.

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This is our 50th episode and today we have something truly unique to share with you.

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I'm your host Chase and joining me today are two incredible guests who are revolutionizing
how electric vehicles are being introduced and taught to future generations.

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First, we have Brandon Watt.

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He's the marketing manager at Switching Vehicles, a company that's making EV technology
hands -on accessible for students.

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And joining him is Chuck Kauffman, an instructor of alternative fuels at WSU Tech in
Kansas, where students are learning EV mechanics using switch vehicle kits in the

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classroom.

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In this episode, Brandon shares how Switch Vehicles was founded and how their innovative
kits are changing the landscape for EV education.

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And then Chuck shares how he's using these kits to teach his students at WSU Tech about
everything from basic electrical systems,

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to high voltage safety and how this hands -on experience is preparing them for real world
careers in the EV industry.

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Chuck also shares how much he's really enjoying using this platform for teaching in the
classroom just because of how it's always evolving and adding new things, everything from

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now being able to teach about power steering and going much more in depth to low voltage
systems.

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And I think that's what really made this episode so great.

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And personally, for me, such a fun episode to talk.

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Chuck and Brandon about just because that's how I got involved with electric vehicles.

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And now it's crazy to think pretty much 20 years ago, I was playing around with electric
vehicles, building and racing them in my high school, being a part of the Electrathon

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America program where high school students all over the US got to build and race electric
vehicles.

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Now these admittedly, I was building as I'll mention on this episode, were much less,
should I say impressive, at least from a output and performance standpoint.

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Still an amazing and great hands -on experience, learning so many great skill sets that I
think more students and just people in general should have in life, let alone if they're

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interested in the automobile space, especially when comes to electric vehicles.

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As we celebrate this 50th episode, we encourage you to share this conversation with at
least one person who would enjoy learning about how EV education is shaping the future.

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And if you've been enjoying the podcast, we'd really appreciate it if you could leave a
positive view on our podcast page.

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Your feedback helps us grow and continue to bring you more insightful conversations like
this one today.

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Thanks for tuning in and here's to the next 50 episodes of the Great Connections podcast.

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With that, enjoy.

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And we have both Brandon Watt and Chuck Kauffman here today to talk about this technology
and what it's doing to make electric vehicles more accessible to high schoolers and people

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who are just generally interested in learning more about how they can be part of the
industry.

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So thank you both gentlemen for coming on today.

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Sure.

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Yeah, you so much chase

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For those who might not be familiar with Brandon why don't you kind of just kick it off
real quick and just give a little background on switch vehicles and how this all came to

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be.

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And then we'll be talking obviously with Chuck about his experience in the classroom and
working with students on with the technology as well.

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Yeah, so Switch Vehicles was started by the mastermind Peter Oliver.

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He's the founder and CEO.

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He actually designed it back in 2013 as a consumer neighborhood friendly kind of golf cart
-esque with longer range for consumers to buy.

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Then the Nissan Leaf came out.

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So he pivoted realizing that he could use this as an educational tool after a school came
and wanted to buy it from him to teach EVs.

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And so we've now built up the program.

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It's the kit, which is the SwitchLab EV.

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It comes with accompanying curriculum provided by GW.

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And then it has lab kits and activities along with a workshop where we make sure the
teacher is ready to go with it.

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Because it's a pretty complicated Lego kit is what I kind of like to call it.

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It's got a lot of pieces.

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And so that's what we sell to schools, colleges, trade, vocational, you name it.

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If they want to teach EVs, we can provide the solution for them.

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And I think it's really cool to just see how fleshed out what your offerings are because
you have, as we kind of talked about, kind of the more entry version.

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That's an LFP battery pack and you've got lithium ion.

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And back in my day, it was like a couple of lead acid batteries and a three and a half
horsepower electric motor.

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So maybe for those listening, you can kind of share a bit more about the actual specs of
this.

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Cause this is a definitely much more amped up vehicle than what I was building and racing
back then.

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be a problem than what I was feeling recently.

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stepping stones as they get more comfortable with high voltage and be able to then drive a
vehicle that isn't so much as a golf cart as like a speed machine.

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I think Chuck could even really talk about the PM96 volt.

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you

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Yeah, I definitely want to hear kind of your experience.

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I guess first, how did you come across?

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Well, first, what is what is your background and role in education for those listening?

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And then two, we'd love to hear just kind of how you got involved and came across switch
vehicles.

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Sure, I was 35 years in the field, worked for General Motors all 35 of those years.

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Got a little bit of introduction into EVs through Saturn.

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Sadly enough, it wasn't the EV1.

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We're here in Kansas, we didn't get the EV1.

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But got a little bit of background there.

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Blew my shoulder out and knee out and I just had trouble wrenching after that.

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I I'm gonna have to change direction.

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And this opportunity to teach came up.

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So I started out here at WSU Tech.

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and told them when I started, if they ever decided to do an electric car program, that I'd
be interested in teaching that.

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Cause I kind of liked the technology and everything that goes along with it.

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And after my first year of teaching, they called me in the office and said, Hey, we're
going to do an EV class and we want you to teach it.

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I said, fantastic.

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What do you got for curriculum?

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What's going on?

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And they said, well, here you go.

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And he slid a blank piece of paper across the desk.

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So it was pretty much my baby to build from the ground up.

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So I did a whole lot of research online and I came across Switch Vehicles.

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And I said, wow, this looks like it.

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So I went ahead and sent that on through.

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And they said, that's just real high money.

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And I said, well, somebody needs to start writing some grants.

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And so they started writing some grants.

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And lo and behold, we ended up with Switch Vehicle.

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And we've been using it ever since.

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It's been absolutely fantastic.

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Just doing wonders for the college.

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and the students, they just love it.

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That's great.

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So from kind of discovery of switch vehicles offerings to then the actual grant writing,
how long did it take from that to grant writing to then having students in the classroom

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working on the vehicles?

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Took about eight months, I believe it was, from the time that we got the grant to the time
we got students working on the vehicle.

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I kind of planned out the classes and I knew which class I wanted to do it in.

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It's our Electrical II platform is where we actually do it.

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We got an Electrical I, which is basics, and then we go into Electrical II, which does a
whole lot more for AC voltage and so forth.

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I wanted the 96 volt lithium because it was a three -phase AC motor, which is much more

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like the factory vehicles, it's all AC.

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So wanted something that I could compare to that.

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Yeah, I think one of the things that's really interesting about the platform you offer,
Brandon, is the fact that there's both a low voltage and a high voltage side to it.

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Whereas the things we were working on pretty much was purely just an accelerometer, not
accelerometer, but the actual accelerator pedal and then a motor and some batteries.

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There was really just one wiring loop and it was all kind of a 24 volt system.

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So maybe it'd be kind of...

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of interesting to hear you explain a little bit about some the sub -systems, Brandon, and
then maybe talk about your experience, your students' experience with putting all these

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things together.

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Yeah, yeah.

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So it differs quite a bit from like a go -kart or even golf -kart style, where there's
probably only going to be one loom.

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Our vehicle has to have two looms because there's a circuit board pretty much behind the
dashboard where the brain has to all connect.

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And so you have the 12 -volt system, which is like your normal car.

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You can add a sound system to our vehicles.

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You can pretty much add anything that runs off 12 volts to it, which makes it kind of fun
for students.

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And then you have the high voltage system, which runs from the battery pack all the way to
the control box in the back.

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And so this project requires a lot of cable management, a lot of zip ties, a lot of looms,
a lot of harnesses.

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Just keep things organized and clean because you can kind of teach some OEM or even design
techniques with that by making things clean.

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protecting wires, making sure they're not touching the hot component and just sitting on
it.

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And so that's kind of what the whole system includes.

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And Chuck definitely probably has experience with it.

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Yeah, we've done a bunch of car shows and everything has to be, know, trimmed and clean
and look good.

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We've got one particular nighttime car show here in Wichita that we decided to take the
car to and all the students said, if we're going to a night show, we got to have

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underglow.

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And so we added the 12 volt underglow underneath it and yeah, it was phenomenal.

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It's a big hit.

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So with the students working on these systems and putting them together, what do you think
seems to be the big, maybe light bulb moment?

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Or are you finding a lot of students just already naturally coming in curious about
electric vehicles?

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Or is there sometimes kind of an uncertainty about the technology?

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Well, to be honest, I get both.

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get students excited about doing electric vehicles and then I get others, the automotive
program filled up and this was their only option.

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So they come over and try out the electric cars.

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But by the time they leave, they're just ecstatic about it and very excited about what we
do and what they've learned here.

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The biggest thing I find when you pop the hood on an EV or a hybrid vehicle, you've got
all those orange wires, all those silver boxes.

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Everything's just scary, you know, to the student.

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And after they put the switch slab together, they put their hands on

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one of the components.

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Same components as in that EV or in that hybrid.

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They understand now how they hook up, what they do, where they fit into the whole
spectrum.

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Now they can go up and hood on that car and not be near as anxious.

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Yeah, that's huge.

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do you find a of your students are then going kind of into becoming technicians or going
to work for the GMs of the world on their EV side or a little bit of everything?

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Yeah, I've got Mercedes, BMW, Mini Cooper, Acura, Hyundai, Buick, GMC, Chevrolet, Dodge,
all of them.

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Of course, they've all got some sort of EV.

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I haven't got anybody breaking the Toyota yet.

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I haven't figured that one out because Toyota's got a bunch.

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But, Vinfast.

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I don't know how familiar you are with Vinfast, but we have one dealership down and one of
my students is employed there.

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He does most of the EV work there.

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Yeah, they're going into the field.

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the field.

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That's great.

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So when you're kind of going to these, like what is the actual class look like?

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Is it all the same, we're going to go put this together?

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Right, imagine this is probably over one or two semesters or if you can just kind of walk
through maybe at a high level what the program looks for putting this together and have

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the educational brand decide on.

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I think our listeners would really enjoy this.

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as well.

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Right.

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SwitchLab has finally put together some new curriculum and I haven't had a chance to go
through it.

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I just got it yesterday, I think it was.

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So I haven't had a good chance to go through it.

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So most everything's been whatever I've created or I've stolen.

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Trust me, I'm a pirate.

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I will take anything from anybody in the EV classes.

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But we started out with electrical one and we go over the basics of electricity and I
teach it a little different.

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I use an army man theory.

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I don't know if you're familiar with the Armyman theory of electricity, but I use that
theory and then we go into AC Armyman and it kind of helps get a visual to what electrons

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are doing, how things are flowing, amps and volts and ohms and how they all work together.

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And once we get through the AC, then we start talking about the switch.

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We have the relay lab also, which is a switch product, and we put that relay lab together
and we get everybody to understand how to crimp wires, how things fit together.

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then once everything on the front of the board works...

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the electric motor spins both directions forward and reverse, and we can plug it in and
disable everything.

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Then we start talking about the switch.

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And I usually divide up in about five groups, and they start putting sections of it
together.

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And as they put the sections together, the next day we sit down, we talk about it, what
all they did, where everything fit in, and then we come back out to the lab.

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and continue on.

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And we finally bring everything all together in one chunk and then all those together
probably that one day.

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ready to run.

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So then after several days of putting pieces together and then we'll program it up and get
it programmed and then we take it out start driving it.

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If not everybody gets a chance to drive it the first day then we definitely spend the
second day driving it again.

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I'm just gonna have to buy some more tires.

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That's the...

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They all like to spin that tire because it will smoke it right off of their wheel.

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You you brought up something, the army men theory on ACI.

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think everything you just said is really fascinating, but you know, that is actually
something I haven't heard referenced in a while.

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Could you actually explain that to people listening?

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Because I bet you most of the people listening aren't familiar with that kind of theory
we're presenting in.

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Well, the armament theory, you think of the electrons as armament.

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And the amplitude is the number of armament that run down the circuit.

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The voltage is how strong they are.

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And resistance is how rough the road is.

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They will use all of their strength through the load, whether it be a motor or a bulb or
even corrosion in a wiring harness or anything like that.

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But they must return back to the battery.

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They've got to go back to the barracks, which we call the battery.

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And of course we always say, you know, they get a beer, massage and a meal and they're all
strength up ready to go out again.

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Okay, so back to full strength.

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14 point whatever is 12 .6 volts.

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In a high voltage battery, of course, you know, it's gonna be much stronger army men.

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Of course, the stronger they are, the less of them I need to do the job.

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So that's the basics in the theory and we run with it from there.

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Voltage drops are very easy to teach because they're using up strength to get through that
connector or that.

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that motor or light or whatever it is.

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Amp meters count them as they go through a turnstile, so you can vision people walking
through that turnstile so you can figure out how many amps there are.

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And then of course there's flag men to direct them down the road.

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So if you've got a parallel circuit, half the army men going this way, the other half
going this way, and we get it taught that way.

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Much better than the hose theory, I think, than the water theory, because after the water
comes out the hose, where's it go?

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And most of your problems on electrical vehicles or any electrical system for that matter
on the ground side.

204
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And with not knowing where the water goes after it comes out the hose, how are you going
to diagnose that?

205
00:16:22,530 --> 00:16:26,422
And understanding they have to get back to the barracks is a big key.

206
00:16:29,005 --> 00:16:29,535
Yeah, that's great.

207
00:16:29,535 --> 00:16:32,657
I mean, it's been a while since I've heard that, I completely agree with you.

208
00:16:32,657 --> 00:16:37,291
I think the water one works really well for kind of like understanding voltage at a high
level.

209
00:16:37,291 --> 00:16:46,006
But when you want to look at the actual kind of whole system and how all these different
things work together, how it means it's a very easy way, I think, for a lot of people to

210
00:16:46,006 --> 00:16:51,019
just kind of understand and visualize how all these systems are interacting together.

211
00:16:53,041 --> 00:16:55,683
that beyond it, what have you found?

212
00:16:55,683 --> 00:16:59,165
Obviously, you got this first grant to start the program.

213
00:16:59,275 --> 00:17:08,921
What have you found to be kind of like the uptake and the interest around now that this
program is being offered at the school, people wanting to come into it?

214
00:17:08,921 --> 00:17:19,047
Like, is it usually word of mouth or has it been something that just has kind been
snowballing as it kind of grows in interest for people to be a part of the offering?

215
00:17:19,408 --> 00:17:21,489
Well, here we're very fortunate here.

216
00:17:21,489 --> 00:17:27,192
We have a group of people who go out to high schools and they bring high schools in and
tours.

217
00:17:27,192 --> 00:17:32,575
And of course they tour the lab and the switch lab assembled or disassembled is always in
the lab.

218
00:17:32,575 --> 00:17:35,016
And so they get to see it one way or the other.

219
00:17:35,677 --> 00:17:37,638
So it's always, always here.

220
00:17:37,638 --> 00:17:40,819
And when they see it, they get, start asking questions.

221
00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:44,642
It's been huge for enrollment.

222
00:17:44,722 --> 00:17:47,123
This class has grown exponentially.

223
00:17:48,662 --> 00:17:51,694
Admin love it because retention is high.

224
00:17:51,755 --> 00:17:56,278
As long as we have that car here and we're doing those projects, the hands -on, we're out
in the lab.

225
00:17:56,278 --> 00:18:00,922
We're not sitting down in a desk, you know, just theory and test, theory and test.

226
00:18:01,062 --> 00:18:02,944
We're out in the shop doing things.

227
00:18:02,944 --> 00:18:04,535
And then they get to drive it afterwards.

228
00:18:04,535 --> 00:18:06,186
Of course, that's exciting.

229
00:18:06,306 --> 00:18:17,215
I've had students from prior classes show up at a car show when we're there and, you know,
just beaming and fried, hey, we built that too in our class, you know, and when other

230
00:18:17,215 --> 00:18:18,628
people walk up.

231
00:18:18,628 --> 00:18:25,321
that have never seen a Switch Lab and they ask a question about it, those students jump up
and they start answering those questions.

232
00:18:25,321 --> 00:18:35,895
it fills me being able to sit there and listen to them answer these questions that they
knew nothing about when they first came to the class and be excited about it like they

233
00:18:35,895 --> 00:18:36,675
are.

234
00:18:36,956 --> 00:18:41,157
Going to the drag strip, taking that car to the drag strip, that's a fun day.

235
00:18:41,238 --> 00:18:46,922
Everybody seems to show up for that, prior students, current students, I'll put it out on
Facebook that we're headed there.

236
00:18:46,922 --> 00:18:49,034
and everybody wants to come see what we can do.

237
00:18:49,034 --> 00:18:54,368
We haven't turned it up all the way yet, but everybody keeps asking me to do it.

238
00:18:54,368 --> 00:18:56,981
We usually have the laptop with us when we're there.

239
00:18:56,981 --> 00:18:59,122
And it's just been exciting.

240
00:18:59,122 --> 00:19:00,644
Keeps bringing people in.

241
00:19:00,644 --> 00:19:04,426
Been people from the drag strip see it and they want to come out and see what's going on.

242
00:19:04,867 --> 00:19:08,950
Younger students watching football games and seeing the commercials for all the EVs.

243
00:19:09,151 --> 00:19:12,593
Yeah, they want to do cars, but they know they're going to have to learn the electric too.

244
00:19:12,734 --> 00:19:15,374
So they come out and join this class.

245
00:19:15,374 --> 00:19:20,076
And course we go through steering, suspension, brakes, and that's all stuff they have put
together on the switch as well.

246
00:19:20,278 --> 00:19:21,430
Works out well.

247
00:19:23,211 --> 00:19:29,553
Yeah, I think that's a great thing you bring up is just the general interest of driving,
seeing them out at tracks and stuff.

248
00:19:29,553 --> 00:19:34,725
Because Brandon, the way we met was actually at the Electrify Expo in San Francisco.

249
00:19:34,725 --> 00:19:43,297
And I was hearing about all sorts of people seeing, and unfortunately I didn't have the
chance to drive one, but the interest in it the day before the event with you guys going

250
00:19:43,297 --> 00:19:44,568
out and driving it.

251
00:19:44,568 --> 00:19:49,779
I mean, what has been your biggest takeaway from just trying to get

252
00:19:55,032 --> 00:20:02,918
Yeah, it's I've learned it's but it's butts in the seats and students talking like Chuck
said the power students have

253
00:20:03,034 --> 00:20:07,627
to be able to just understand the theory and then apply it to what they're working on and
like tell someone about that.

254
00:20:07,627 --> 00:20:12,130
Like the whole process is the reason, like that's what gets me up in the morning.

255
00:20:12,130 --> 00:20:18,265
Like that's super exciting to be able to have students just like hyped about a project and
actually get to take away those things.

256
00:20:18,265 --> 00:20:28,822
And teacher seats in the butts helps, but I think the students going to these events like
Electrify, we brought Joseph Antolin from our Switch CSI and his whole school with two

257
00:20:28,822 --> 00:20:32,704
switches and his students were there all weekend just talking people up.

258
00:20:32,740 --> 00:20:40,754
I think that has such an impact and really gets parents excited about it, teachers excited
about it, administrators.

259
00:20:41,114 --> 00:20:42,685
And then you get to drive really fast.

260
00:20:42,685 --> 00:20:45,126
I think like the cherry on top, it's already such a great thing.

261
00:20:45,126 --> 00:20:50,139
And then you get to go have a lot of fun with the thing you built versus you just, you
don't build it and just leave it there.

262
00:20:50,139 --> 00:20:52,440
Or it's not going to just go around the block a few times.

263
00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:54,621
You can go like Chuck and take it to a strip.

264
00:20:54,621 --> 00:20:57,582
You can drive it around town, get people staring at you.

265
00:20:57,702 --> 00:21:00,045
So I think that really does help.

266
00:21:00,045 --> 00:21:01,857
What I've learned is just people getting eyes on it.

267
00:21:01,857 --> 00:21:03,348
They don't know it exists.

268
00:21:03,469 --> 00:21:04,460
EVs are so new.

269
00:21:04,460 --> 00:21:08,073
They're still a baby as an industry.

270
00:21:08,114 --> 00:21:11,738
So I think people just need to know there's options.

271
00:21:13,293 --> 00:21:14,204
Yeah, I think that's a great point.

272
00:21:14,204 --> 00:21:20,138
And obviously when you see something going around, it's a three wheeled vehicle, loads of
ground, definitely stands out.

273
00:21:20,318 --> 00:21:29,855
And it is just wild to see like, we'd kind of talk about the thing I've been a part of in
high school was the Electra Thought America race, which once again, just this little three

274
00:21:29,855 --> 00:21:34,268
and a half horsepower electric motor, but it's still kind of a fun three wheel thing you
made.

275
00:21:34,268 --> 00:21:39,212
And I forget, so what is the power that the switch of vehicles put out?

276
00:21:39,212 --> 00:21:41,193
Cause it's considerably more.

277
00:21:41,262 --> 00:21:51,922
yeah, so if if if you're like us and myself we crank it all the way up to max so we can
get about 140 150 horsepower out of it for our top -end model and then I think the lead

278
00:21:51,922 --> 00:21:55,974
acid is somewhere in like the 72 horsepower range about half

279
00:21:55,974 --> 00:21:59,974
But yeah, it's got enough speed to get you up to 90.

280
00:21:59,974 --> 00:22:04,194
At Electrify, I actually got it up on their track up to think 75.

281
00:22:04,194 --> 00:22:05,944
So you can get ripping.

282
00:22:05,944 --> 00:22:09,374
Yeah, if you have a straightaway and you can get that back tire to grip.

283
00:22:12,561 --> 00:22:23,091
I think the thing especially too is yes, it's a hundred fifty horsepower But it's so much
lighter than the other cars and so you do have just such a much more performance oriented

284
00:22:23,091 --> 00:22:30,527
driving experience with it Just to kind of Yeah, exactly

285
00:22:32,513 --> 00:22:38,675
So I guess for those listening, can you kind of share a little bit more of the history of
switch vehicles?

286
00:22:38,675 --> 00:22:47,209
Brandon how that kind of came to be and maybe some of the evolution as I Chuck even
mentioned it sounds like now there's even more that people can access around some of the

287
00:22:47,209 --> 00:22:53,670
education side But yeah, if you could kind of just share a little bit more about the
evolution of the company and now some of the evolution of the products

288
00:22:53,670 --> 00:23:01,490
Yeah, so I briefly went over at Oliver or Peter Oliver actually in 2008 was an adjunct
professor teaching EV conversions.

289
00:23:01,730 --> 00:23:05,840
He taught EV conversions for about two years and then the grant funding actually ran out.

290
00:23:05,840 --> 00:23:08,630
So they canceled his class at the local state college.

291
00:23:08,630 --> 00:23:18,766
And then he started designing this open body tube framed around town EV that had about
like 50 to 70 miles of range, really good price point.

292
00:23:18,766 --> 00:23:24,409
a very basic item that people could just use for their short commutes or going to the
grocery store.

293
00:23:24,809 --> 00:23:33,524
And then the Nissan Leaf came out from Toyota, offering pretty much exactly what he was
trying to offer at a higher, it's an OEM, so it's a factory.

294
00:23:33,524 --> 00:23:37,797
They were cranking out like vehicle, like their true vehicles with airbags and systems.

295
00:23:37,797 --> 00:23:48,132
And so the local Sonoma CTE, the Local CTE Nonprofit Foundation, saw him driving it one
day and they saw how his open body, you could see the components and they're like,

296
00:23:48,176 --> 00:23:50,157
Peter, can we buy this from you for a school?

297
00:23:50,157 --> 00:23:56,512
And then the light bulb went off and he's like, the way I've been R &D -ing this is a
perfect student project.

298
00:23:56,812 --> 00:23:58,824
And so that's kind how it started.

299
00:23:58,824 --> 00:24:02,146
It started with a much smaller motor and a much smaller battery in the beginning.

300
00:24:02,146 --> 00:24:04,698
It was only lead acid for a little bit.

301
00:24:04,698 --> 00:24:07,170
And then we added the lithium ion.

302
00:24:07,170 --> 00:24:09,281
We wanted to stay up with OEMs.

303
00:24:09,281 --> 00:24:13,884
And he thought it was really important that we make sure that we continuously keep doing
that.

304
00:24:14,205 --> 00:24:16,358
And so as we grew,

305
00:24:16,358 --> 00:24:19,298
We had to buy in more space.

306
00:24:19,298 --> 00:24:22,938
We're now in 360 schools and counting.

307
00:24:22,938 --> 00:24:26,578
And so it's really, really ramping up in the last three years.

308
00:24:27,118 --> 00:24:28,638
Shout out to the COVID grants.

309
00:24:28,638 --> 00:24:36,478
They really, really helped us get into schools because schools finally had large amounts
of money to spend on projects, facilities, programs.

310
00:24:36,478 --> 00:24:40,338
And we were right there to offer them as EVs are blowing up.

311
00:24:40,598 --> 00:24:42,478
And so we've continued to do that.

312
00:24:42,478 --> 00:24:45,796
And now we even offer a rolling cart, which Chuck was talking about.

313
00:24:45,796 --> 00:24:49,679
It's a box with all of the components of an EV and it's got a throttle.

314
00:24:49,679 --> 00:24:50,690
can see the motor spin.

315
00:24:50,690 --> 00:24:58,316
It's got a high voltage pack and it's got all the wiring looms and it's much more heavy on
the wiring and programming side and system side.

316
00:24:58,396 --> 00:25:00,798
And it allows teachers to use it as a teaching item.

317
00:25:00,798 --> 00:25:06,193
You can roll it between your physics classroom and your engineering classroom, rolled into
your auto shop for a day.

318
00:25:06,193 --> 00:25:11,888
We wanted to give teachers an option if they didn't have space for a car because there are
a lot of schools that don't have auto shops.

319
00:25:11,888 --> 00:25:13,969
I'm from a small public high school.

320
00:25:13,969 --> 00:25:15,106
I worked on wood.

321
00:25:15,106 --> 00:25:17,087
I made a chair in high school, I think.

322
00:25:17,527 --> 00:25:19,678
So we understand that.

323
00:25:19,678 --> 00:25:25,272
And my high school could actually use the EV trainer very easily, rolling in between their
engineering and robotics classes.

324
00:25:25,272 --> 00:25:29,414
And so that's kind of the evolution and our goals in the future are ADOS.

325
00:25:29,414 --> 00:25:41,340
We want to offer ADOS autonomous switch package, where we teach the students the theory of
autonomy, whether it's a vision or it's lidar.

326
00:25:41,400 --> 00:25:44,578
We want them to understand it and then be able to install it in the switch.

327
00:25:44,578 --> 00:25:49,282
and then control like a remote control car or just have it drive from point A to point B.

328
00:25:49,283 --> 00:25:51,105
I think that's our next step.

329
00:25:51,105 --> 00:26:00,794
that's kind of our mission is to stay on top of it and still give students something
that's exciting, relevant and skills they can go use at high paying careers.

330
00:26:02,052 --> 00:26:03,153
Pick me.

331
00:26:03,274 --> 00:26:04,256
Pick me.

332
00:26:04,256 --> 00:26:06,098
I want to be part of that.

333
00:26:06,239 --> 00:26:08,602
Yeah, definitely want to be part of that ADOS.

334
00:26:09,828 --> 00:26:10,891
Yup, Chuck you'll be a part of it.

335
00:26:10,891 --> 00:26:13,284
You know I bother you all the time for help.

336
00:26:13,284 --> 00:26:14,258
That's wonderful.

337
00:26:14,258 --> 00:26:15,263
Chief it up.

338
00:26:16,311 --> 00:26:24,575
Well, it's interesting you bring that up and obviously Chuck, it sounds like what you're
saying, obviously the interest in that is not just for the students, but I'm sure you're

339
00:26:24,575 --> 00:26:30,668
having a lot of businesses and others kind of reach out to you for like that scenario that
they're asking for students to be trained in.

340
00:26:30,668 --> 00:26:32,078
Is that, is that true?

341
00:26:32,078 --> 00:26:33,409
Yeah, very true.

342
00:26:33,409 --> 00:26:38,754
We just got some ADOS equipment in here, started aiming cameras and so forth here.

343
00:26:38,754 --> 00:26:41,295
We've got a bunch of industry partners.

344
00:26:41,396 --> 00:26:42,147
That's the key.

345
00:26:42,147 --> 00:26:45,479
Get out to industry, let them see that switch, let them see what you're doing.

346
00:26:45,800 --> 00:26:48,682
And we let them know that we have ADOS here as well.

347
00:26:48,682 --> 00:26:58,691
Some of them are even wanting to send their technicians out here for non -credit classes
for us to go through ADOS, explain how it works and actually let them use the equipment we

348
00:26:58,691 --> 00:27:00,542
have out here to set some cars up.

349
00:27:00,654 --> 00:27:02,613
So we're looking forward to that as well.

350
00:27:04,203 --> 00:27:12,997
I think that's such an interesting space right now because there's so many different kind
of approaches to what that is for a lot obviously it's kind of a driver assistance

351
00:27:12,997 --> 00:27:24,251
technology, but then there's some that are really pushing the difference between maybe it
lets you kind of Do something for a few seconds while the car watches what it's doing and

352
00:27:24,251 --> 00:27:34,035
then there's obviously others that have a Different approach where it's much more on its
own what right now Chuck are you and your kind of class looking at and kind of?

353
00:27:34,209 --> 00:27:39,409
going through, what does that look like in the classroom educating on that topic?

354
00:27:39,910 --> 00:27:43,131
we have a certification that is pending.

355
00:27:43,131 --> 00:27:50,254
It is an NC3 certification that students can obtain using this equipment.

356
00:27:50,975 --> 00:27:52,305
I need to be trained on that.

357
00:27:52,305 --> 00:27:57,277
We've got the equipment now, so training should happen later this year for myself.

358
00:27:57,397 --> 00:28:01,419
Once I've been trained, then I can teach those students how to use that equipment too.

359
00:28:01,419 --> 00:28:04,640
I've already used it on some of the vehicles we have here on the lot.

360
00:28:05,088 --> 00:28:12,955
and got some cameras aimed for cruise control and for lane keep assist, those kind of
things that weren't working right.

361
00:28:12,955 --> 00:28:16,457
They were donated cars and they were kind of messed up here and there.

362
00:28:16,457 --> 00:28:18,518
And we got them working.

363
00:28:18,519 --> 00:28:23,223
So we're anxious to get started, anxious to get that certification going.

364
00:28:23,223 --> 00:28:29,127
And I'm hoping by next spring we'll be able to offer that certification.

365
00:28:30,217 --> 00:28:30,528
Cool.

366
00:28:30,528 --> 00:28:38,280
So is that like an ASC or who is the one that you have to get certified by or kind of
who's established those?

367
00:28:39,192 --> 00:28:41,372
National Coalition of Certificates.

368
00:28:41,553 --> 00:28:43,543
Yeah, that's who we're using for this one.

369
00:28:43,543 --> 00:28:47,014
NC3, they do a lot of snap -on certifications.

370
00:28:47,014 --> 00:28:48,995
They have a Kubota certification.

371
00:28:48,995 --> 00:28:55,156
They get together with like STERET for PMI is what they call it, it's precision
measurement.

372
00:28:55,517 --> 00:29:03,979
And they do torque certifications and just a plethora of different certifications in
different industries.

373
00:29:04,219 --> 00:29:07,982
There's even a circuit board soldering certification that you can get through.

374
00:29:07,982 --> 00:29:09,813
through NC3.

375
00:29:09,813 --> 00:29:12,478
They're growing, they're getting much larger.

376
00:29:12,478 --> 00:29:14,190
are nationwide here.

377
00:29:14,190 --> 00:29:17,393
We've been using them at this college quite a bit.

378
00:29:17,393 --> 00:29:23,979
And then for as far as ASE goes, we do the ASE pre -test so our students can become pre
-certified.

379
00:29:23,979 --> 00:29:29,324
They still have to have their two years experience before they can become actual ASE
certified.

380
00:29:29,465 --> 00:29:33,268
But we offer a master's program there.

381
00:29:34,519 --> 00:29:35,629
That's great.

382
00:29:35,750 --> 00:29:46,287
So Brandon, kind of looking at the space, mean, I know there's only so much share with us,
but what are some of the areas, is there anything beyond kind of the ADAS technologies as

383
00:29:46,287 --> 00:29:52,641
far as where your team is looking or just getting a lot of requests to expand your team's
offerings?

384
00:29:52,669 --> 00:29:53,110
so much to about that.

385
00:29:53,110 --> 00:29:56,391
What are some of areas, is there anything beyond the ADAS technologies, where your team
would be interested in lot of requests of your team to do that?

386
00:29:56,391 --> 00:29:57,992
We get a lot of requests for the, kind of like an ADOS lab kit, the lab kits.

387
00:29:57,992 --> 00:30:04,786
They want to have more, I wouldn't call it theory, but activities that relate to the full
build before they're getting to the build.

388
00:30:05,111 --> 00:30:08,673
I think they want ways to extend it into a two semester class.

389
00:30:08,794 --> 00:30:09,865
So that's a big request.

390
00:30:09,865 --> 00:30:13,588
Also, we've gotten requests for like a motorsports version or a four wheeled version.

391
00:30:13,588 --> 00:30:24,367
I see the reason they want that, but there isn't really a necessary need because like what
we offer right now is still street legal.

392
00:30:24,608 --> 00:30:28,651
The fourth wheel adds a lot of DMV headaches for us.

393
00:30:28,671 --> 00:30:32,354
So the three wheeled motorcycle, we found the gray area.

394
00:30:32,378 --> 00:30:37,602
So it's a three -wheeled motorcycle with a steering wheel, so you don't need a motorcycle
license.

395
00:30:37,702 --> 00:30:40,844
And then also you don't need a helmet because there's a roll cage.

396
00:30:40,885 --> 00:30:46,129
So you kind of get that extra gray area leniency.

397
00:30:46,129 --> 00:30:47,030
And it's very safe.

398
00:30:47,030 --> 00:30:48,691
And it's so wide that it's like a boat.

399
00:30:48,691 --> 00:30:51,033
So it'd be really, really hard to roll it.

400
00:30:51,313 --> 00:30:54,055
So the roll cage is just there for extra protection.

401
00:30:54,376 --> 00:30:57,418
But that's kind of what teachers are asking for is mostly.

402
00:30:57,828 --> 00:31:08,481
lab activities and maybe a motorsports version, maybe even more amped up version that kind
of relates more to NHRA, like Chuck was mentioning NASCAR Formula One, Formula E, Formula

403
00:31:08,481 --> 00:31:10,952
Drift, like Hoonigan style stuff.

404
00:31:10,952 --> 00:31:16,793
So we've gotten some of those requests and I think our R &D department, I'm trying to
convince them and that they want to do it.

405
00:31:16,793 --> 00:31:25,086
It's just the cost of R &D and if we're going to go balls to the wall, we have have
customers who want to spend that kind of money because it is going to be a high end

406
00:31:25,086 --> 00:31:26,646
project at that point.

407
00:31:26,810 --> 00:31:28,702
They better treat it like their baby.

408
00:31:30,251 --> 00:31:31,473
Yeah, so that's an interesting question.

409
00:31:31,473 --> 00:31:33,225
I mean, what does that look like?

410
00:31:33,225 --> 00:31:37,420
Is that larger motors, larger battery?

411
00:31:37,420 --> 00:31:48,974
Is it just really everything's upsized and kind of more of motorsport quality or are there
other things that kind of are things that may be included other than just upsizing a lot

412
00:31:48,974 --> 00:31:49,691
of the products?

413
00:31:49,691 --> 00:31:59,154
it'd be like a racing seat with like the neck protector So teach like they want lessons on
that then you also can get into like drift wheels and wheels like really get into wheels

414
00:31:59,154 --> 00:32:07,306
if we give a motor sport version with a bigger swing arm in the back as then you could
take different sized wheels out and we want to also have a more adjustable like you'd have

415
00:32:07,306 --> 00:32:14,192
adjustable springs and shocks so that you could raise it put on bigger tires we want to
kind of get into that realm of like

416
00:32:14,192 --> 00:32:15,253
Let's see how crazy we can get.

417
00:32:15,253 --> 00:32:17,185
What kind of shocks can we put on this?

418
00:32:17,365 --> 00:32:21,089
What kind of battery can we put in it that's a little bit more high end?

419
00:32:21,109 --> 00:32:25,284
The motors, we could just do direct drive motors where they attach right to the wheel.

420
00:32:25,284 --> 00:32:26,415
There's no more chain.

421
00:32:26,415 --> 00:32:27,896
That is direct torque.

422
00:32:27,896 --> 00:32:30,458
There is no resistance.

423
00:32:30,458 --> 00:32:33,002
And so those are some of the things we're looking at and seeing.

424
00:32:33,002 --> 00:32:34,383
Are they viable?

425
00:32:34,443 --> 00:32:36,705
Will school's HR accept this?

426
00:32:37,158 --> 00:32:39,298
And so you have to think about students in Liveville.

427
00:32:39,298 --> 00:32:47,218
Yeah, and so those are some of the things That's why like I get teacher seats in the butt
and I'll drive to 70 miles an hour if I have an admin or principal I'm just cruising at 45

428
00:32:47,218 --> 00:32:57,518
like look how cool this is Because like there are things where it's a good they have a
right to be afraid or like want to worry But if you teach the students the right

429
00:32:57,518 --> 00:33:01,588
techniques you really show them that like they need to care about this vehicle They just
built it.

430
00:33:01,588 --> 00:33:02,588
They're not gonna be reckless.

431
00:33:02,588 --> 00:33:03,558
They're gonna be really careful.

432
00:33:03,558 --> 00:33:05,806
They'll get to do their burnouts, but I think

433
00:33:05,806 --> 00:33:08,339
It's designed in a way that makes it as safe as possible.

434
00:33:08,339 --> 00:33:12,633
And it's got all the standard safety features of an OEM EV.

435
00:33:12,633 --> 00:33:17,457
So I think that kind of really helps us get over that wall of fear.

436
00:33:18,440 --> 00:33:20,160
Brandon, I think you're right there.

437
00:33:21,081 --> 00:33:23,411
I think you're right there.

438
00:33:23,411 --> 00:33:24,622
I think you're right there.

439
00:33:24,622 --> 00:33:29,103
I have less trouble with students driving reckless than I do admin.

440
00:33:29,483 --> 00:33:34,505
We had our foundation head over here and she said, I haven't had a chance to drive this
thing yet.

441
00:33:34,505 --> 00:33:35,815
So I threw her the keys to it.

442
00:33:35,815 --> 00:33:37,556
She jumps in it, she takes out in the parking lot.

443
00:33:37,556 --> 00:33:40,446
Next thing I know is out there spinning donuts in the parking lot.

444
00:33:40,446 --> 00:33:45,968
So yeah, I have more trouble with admin than I do students when it comes to actual
driving.

445
00:33:48,951 --> 00:33:59,932
Yeah, I that's where I was kind of curious too, because I could see if you were trying to
educate or like teach maybe an existing engineering or especially like racing or

446
00:33:59,932 --> 00:34:02,434
traditional combustion engine, like mechanic team.

447
00:34:02,434 --> 00:34:09,671
But then when you start getting to like the high school level, there is definitely another
level of just kind of concern around that stuff.

448
00:34:11,211 --> 00:34:11,982
I was doing it.

449
00:34:11,982 --> 00:34:15,065
broke a few sets of tires and had some fun with ours.

450
00:34:15,066 --> 00:34:25,630
So it is not unfounded, but yeah, I totally understand where you guys have come from that
it's much more the students kind of understand what they're dealing with versus the admin

451
00:34:25,630 --> 00:34:26,641
side of it.

452
00:34:26,653 --> 00:34:29,875
Yeah, as a teacher it's it's part of their job to instill.

453
00:34:29,875 --> 00:34:30,725
It's high voltage.

454
00:34:30,725 --> 00:34:32,976
That's why we have like a whole safety kit.

455
00:34:32,976 --> 00:34:35,558
There's a whole instruction kit now for labeling.

456
00:34:35,558 --> 00:34:36,779
We even do OSHA labeling.

457
00:34:36,779 --> 00:34:38,980
I did some googling and was like what's OSHA standards?

458
00:34:38,980 --> 00:34:41,981
And then I just labeled our vehicle up to standard.

459
00:34:42,162 --> 00:34:45,244
So like those things students really, really know in their mind.

460
00:34:45,244 --> 00:34:46,724
Don't mess around with this.

461
00:34:46,724 --> 00:34:49,826
It's a fun toy, but you have to be responsible with the toy.

462
00:34:51,709 --> 00:34:59,535
And I mean, I think we've talked about this But it would just be kind of interesting to
kind of go through it in a step -by -step process home Maybe a little more detail but

463
00:34:59,535 --> 00:35:01,576
Chuck could you just share like what?

464
00:35:01,637 --> 00:35:04,839
The class looks like is it from kind of like day one?

465
00:35:04,839 --> 00:35:13,875
It's like learning about the electrical side and then Starting with maybe the chassis and
then going into the low voltage the high voltage You're just gonna kind of walk through

466
00:35:13,875 --> 00:35:19,509
what that does look like for someone who would be interested in setting up for the class

467
00:35:20,440 --> 00:35:22,841
Each class is five weeks.

468
00:35:22,982 --> 00:35:27,823
We have a brakes class, suspension class, and just move right on through the progress.

469
00:35:28,024 --> 00:35:33,436
We usually start out electrical one first because everything is electrical now.

470
00:35:33,436 --> 00:35:36,147
I mean even brakes and you've got electrical everywhere.

471
00:35:36,147 --> 00:35:42,390
So we start out with electrical one and we run them through that and then into steering
suspension, engine mechanical.

472
00:35:42,390 --> 00:35:46,852
Hybrids have reciprocating piston engines so we have to know how to fix those as well.

473
00:35:47,108 --> 00:35:55,030
And then we get down towards the end of second semester, our second year, and we go into
electrical too.

474
00:35:55,251 --> 00:36:01,072
We start figuring out more how the motors function, how relays function, how everything
functions there.

475
00:36:01,072 --> 00:36:07,064
And that's when we drag in the switch and start talking more about all that.

476
00:36:07,064 --> 00:36:11,055
we're going through, first we start out with the batteries.

477
00:36:11,135 --> 00:36:14,480
And I set up some little things to do.

478
00:36:14,480 --> 00:36:23,240
with 1 .5 volt batteries and we explain how you stack them in a flashlight and you up the
voltage and then when you stack them up and put two stacks side by side and link them

479
00:36:23,240 --> 00:36:35,360
together now you're upping up the amp hours or the actual wattage of the battery and then
they get to build the battery in the switch lab that solidifies all of it as they're going

480
00:36:35,360 --> 00:36:41,190
and I have them check the voltages as they progress and once we get close to 50 volts the
gloves go on

481
00:36:41,190 --> 00:36:41,890
on.

482
00:36:41,890 --> 00:36:45,590
We know that our bodies will withstand 50 volts after that.

483
00:36:45,590 --> 00:36:46,736
It gets questionable.

484
00:36:46,736 --> 00:36:50,716
the gloves go on as they're checking them through the process.

485
00:36:51,196 --> 00:37:00,776
Anything with an orange cable, of course, you know, we do swap batteries out of some of
the EVs factory built and Prius, we do a lot of Prius batteries.

486
00:37:01,136 --> 00:37:07,756
And they test those all the time to make sure that they're safe before they continue
working on them.

487
00:37:07,756 --> 00:37:10,802
And to drop the case off of a battery, pop the top off.

488
00:37:10,802 --> 00:37:16,788
the top off, the gloves go on immediately until the battery is completely disabled.

489
00:37:16,788 --> 00:37:18,310
So a lot of safety involved in there.

490
00:37:18,310 --> 00:37:20,372
I like to say I scare them to death.

491
00:37:20,372 --> 00:37:21,202
to touch it.

492
00:37:21,202 --> 00:37:25,832
And then I bring them in to how you can touch it and when it becomes safe.

493
00:37:26,212 --> 00:37:30,442
most of the, you know, when you get it disconnected, it's a 12 volt car, good work.

494
00:37:30,442 --> 00:37:33,052
I it's not a big deal at that point.

495
00:37:33,552 --> 00:37:40,812
But, you know, walking them right through, starting out with the electrical one and then
try to run through all the other components.

496
00:37:40,888 --> 00:37:48,330
all the other sections and then finish up with building a switch lab, kind of a graduation
thing, you know, last class.

497
00:37:48,330 --> 00:37:51,211
You know, they're getting antsy at that point, they want out, right?

498
00:37:51,211 --> 00:37:56,393
And now they've got a reason to show up to class, they've got a reason to be here because
now they get to do that.

499
00:37:56,393 --> 00:38:03,695
So yeah, that's kind of way we try to run it through, try to keep the retention, try to
keep the students interested and excited.

500
00:38:03,695 --> 00:38:09,096
But a lot of connector building, a lot of soldering, a lot of that kind of stuff goes on
first, so they know.

501
00:38:09,356 --> 00:38:10,637
know how all that works.

502
00:38:10,637 --> 00:38:17,219
I make them do a voltage drop test on every connector they build so they know just how
good a quality connector they build.

503
00:38:17,359 --> 00:38:20,941
Then I have them compared to a soldered one versus a crimped one.

504
00:38:20,941 --> 00:38:25,582
And it's only a few tenths of a volt, but a few tenths of a volt can make a difference.

505
00:38:26,913 --> 00:38:28,974
for sure and that can add up quickly.

506
00:38:29,234 --> 00:38:39,609
No, that's great to see because that is something I didn't fully appreciate until much
older and I think that would have been a great addition of those kinds of little guide

507
00:38:39,609 --> 00:38:43,340
rails to have in the education process of all this.

508
00:38:43,381 --> 00:38:50,684
You've kind of alluded to hybrids and some of those other things that their techs are
likely to see in the world.

509
00:38:50,684 --> 00:38:53,215
I'm curious like Brandon, how do

510
00:38:53,645 --> 00:38:56,850
is as far as I understand, all of your systems are fully -bed.

511
00:38:56,850 --> 00:39:00,055
There's no real hybrid or anything other than that.

512
00:39:00,055 --> 00:39:08,928
For those listening, does the education material that you guys offer go over and plug in
our hybrid stuff at all, or is it pretty much just fully focused on a fully electric

513
00:39:08,928 --> 00:39:09,799
vehicle?

514
00:39:10,067 --> 00:39:12,587
before it did not, now it does.

515
00:39:12,867 --> 00:39:22,490
So we partnered with GW and their EVS systems approach goes over all high voltage systems
in cars, whether it's a hybrid, plug -in,

516
00:39:23,152 --> 00:39:24,843
full just EV straight.

517
00:39:24,843 --> 00:39:30,304
That's something we wanted to add because we knew students and teachers probably had
hybrids in their auto shops.

518
00:39:30,344 --> 00:39:37,627
And students will, giving them more opportunities and more options and more things to
learn about just helps them down the road immensely.

519
00:39:37,627 --> 00:39:40,908
And so we didn't want to pigeonhole them into EVs only, that's all you can learn.

520
00:39:40,908 --> 00:39:43,669
We wanted, we even have hydrogen in the book.

521
00:39:43,669 --> 00:39:48,698
So we even teach them about hydrogen, which is even more niche, but we want them to find
their interest.

522
00:39:48,698 --> 00:39:51,419
Who knows, that kid might be like, I really like these fuel cells.

523
00:39:51,419 --> 00:39:53,940
I'm going to go work for a company developing them.

524
00:39:54,240 --> 00:39:55,961
So yes, now it currently does.

525
00:39:55,961 --> 00:40:03,153
And I think that's really important for us, even if our vehicle doesn't have a gas motor
or fuel cells on it, that students still get to learn the theory.

526
00:40:03,153 --> 00:40:10,316
And then hopefully that auto shop has a hybrid or has a fuel cell like activity or lab so
that they get that experience still.

527
00:40:11,767 --> 00:40:13,007
Yeah, that makes a lot of sense.

528
00:40:13,007 --> 00:40:16,678
And it's an interesting way to kind of build in that exposure to it.

529
00:40:16,898 --> 00:40:29,132
And then if they can have the real world in the class grade too, when you look at kind of
where switch vehicles is headed and kind of the current kind of offerings, it's been

530
00:40:29,132 --> 00:40:37,414
interesting, obviously, time for Chuck and then the other teacher we spoke to at electrify
expo, what are you seeing as far as like, how a school adopts this?

531
00:40:37,414 --> 00:40:41,965
it kind of like a curiosity, maybe one kid and then they start adding more and more?

532
00:40:42,490 --> 00:40:49,431
Or is there a lot of schools coming to you with like we want three of these today and XYZ.

533
00:40:49,431 --> 00:40:54,165
I'm just I'm kind of curious like just understanding more about like the mindset of the
school is coming to you about it.

534
00:40:54,165 --> 00:40:55,116
that's a good question.

535
00:40:55,116 --> 00:40:58,196
yeah, schools usually come to us out of curiosity at first.

536
00:40:58,356 --> 00:41:02,197
Like Chuck, they're like, all right, I got approval to teach an EV class.

537
00:41:02,197 --> 00:41:06,258
Who sells EV education, curriculums, projects?

538
00:41:06,419 --> 00:41:09,259
We happened to come up and we offered the full gambit.

539
00:41:09,259 --> 00:41:10,680
So that's kind of what usually happens.

540
00:41:10,680 --> 00:41:14,071
And then Chuck probably had to punch up a lot like, hey, I'm here.

541
00:41:14,071 --> 00:41:15,011
You want to pay the bill?

542
00:41:15,011 --> 00:41:19,172
So a lot of that times we get like office admins who get bothered by the teacher.

543
00:41:19,172 --> 00:41:23,743
And then the principal finds out, the superintendent finds out, or their CTE director
finds out.

544
00:41:23,743 --> 00:41:25,004
They do some research.

545
00:41:25,004 --> 00:41:27,384
We'll do like web demos with them and show them.

546
00:41:27,384 --> 00:41:33,506
they're like, like it's, cause a lot of people think it's a go -kart because the website
may not give a good reference for size.

547
00:41:33,506 --> 00:41:34,356
And so then they see it.

548
00:41:34,356 --> 00:41:35,336
They're like, that's a car.

549
00:41:35,336 --> 00:41:38,327
And I'm like, yeah, you're, you're buying a car technically.

550
00:41:38,717 --> 00:41:45,239
and so a lot of the times it is just curiosity or even it can go top down where we've had
department of education.

551
00:41:45,239 --> 00:41:48,504
So where the head top dog called us and was like,

552
00:41:48,504 --> 00:41:53,957
my schools in the state need this, here's a blank check and we just ship them out.

553
00:41:54,298 --> 00:41:59,241
So it depends on kind of how they hear about us or what their initiatives are.

554
00:41:59,241 --> 00:42:06,226
The state I'm referring to is had a Rivian and Hyundai and Toyota battery manufacturing
plant open up.

555
00:42:06,567 --> 00:42:14,892
And the department of education was scrambling because those factories I think opened
earlier this year and they needed students who could then go to college or even go work on

556
00:42:14,892 --> 00:42:17,880
the line out of high school, work on the manufacturing lines.

557
00:42:17,880 --> 00:42:25,705
And so that's kind of where we see a lot of the teachers coming for us are looking for a
solution because they have a lot of job openings and a lot of companies don't want to go

558
00:42:25,705 --> 00:42:28,497
somewhere where they can't find a workforce.

559
00:42:28,497 --> 00:42:30,948
You need to have someone who's going to help your business.

560
00:42:33,015 --> 00:42:44,115
And are you seeing it, is it mostly like high school, is it college, or is it kind of a
across the board interest in what kind of schools and educational levels are kind of

561
00:42:44,115 --> 00:42:46,577
coming to you to start working this into the?

562
00:42:46,886 --> 00:42:48,966
I would say it's we're at 50 50 now.

563
00:42:48,966 --> 00:42:51,676
It used to be high school when we didn't have the high end model.

564
00:42:51,676 --> 00:42:52,766
It was the lower end.

565
00:42:52,766 --> 00:42:58,316
And then once we get the high end model, like Chuck tech colleges and community colleges,
ears perked up.

566
00:42:58,316 --> 00:43:00,146
They're like, that's close to an OEM.

567
00:43:00,146 --> 00:43:04,866
And so they started contacting us and they're like, we are offering now something more
high level.

568
00:43:04,866 --> 00:43:14,546
Some high schools even purchase the high end one if they've got like an engineering
pathway or an auto tech pathway, whereby the fourth year the students have fully built it.

569
00:43:14,546 --> 00:43:16,254
Chuck does it in five weeks.

570
00:43:16,254 --> 00:43:20,336
So he's on a very, very different level of skills he has with his students.

571
00:43:20,336 --> 00:43:21,937
They can probably get that done real quick.

572
00:43:21,937 --> 00:43:24,207
If you're looking at high school, they might need a year.

573
00:43:24,207 --> 00:43:26,638
They might need two semesters.

574
00:43:26,638 --> 00:43:30,980
They break it up more because it's just more time to train and get the students familiar.

575
00:43:30,980 --> 00:43:34,222
Some of them haven't even turned a wrench before in the engineering classes.

576
00:43:34,222 --> 00:43:39,484
So these teachers have to teach some very basic skills, but these students need those
skills.

577
00:43:39,484 --> 00:43:43,415
And you'll always need to turn a wrench at some point in your life, I hope.

578
00:43:43,415 --> 00:43:45,176
So it's good to teach them there and then.

579
00:43:48,381 --> 00:43:56,734
That's a good point and that that is kind of interesting is like I said I it was a by high
school and it was much more Yeah, it was a fully encompassing for anyone and everyone

580
00:43:56,734 --> 00:44:07,167
whether you'd used a welder before or not And I guess what you're probably seeing Chuck is
much more they have exposure to working on cars working on stuff but it hasn't been maybe

581
00:44:07,167 --> 00:44:09,228
so much with the electric vehicles or

582
00:44:10,478 --> 00:44:11,049
No, not really.

583
00:44:11,049 --> 00:44:15,694
We have high school that joins the community.

584
00:44:15,694 --> 00:44:21,254
And I've had chance to see the difference between the two.

585
00:44:21,254 --> 00:44:23,645
and a straight blade screwdriver when they started.

586
00:44:24,245 --> 00:44:28,197
It's always driven me crazy is the difference between quarter inch, three eights and half
inch drive.

587
00:44:28,197 --> 00:44:35,610
You know, they want to get out a half inch drive, right to take a seven millimeter bolt
out, you know, to get that taught as well.

588
00:44:35,610 --> 00:44:37,730
So of course, there's tools.

589
00:44:37,791 --> 00:44:41,552
We teach tools as well in the engine repair section.

590
00:44:41,552 --> 00:44:43,772
So they become familiar with those.

591
00:44:43,772 --> 00:44:51,092
of course, the high voltage tools come into play and we don't use those on regular 12
-volt systems.

592
00:44:51,092 --> 00:44:53,412
We only use them on high voltage systems.

593
00:44:54,372 --> 00:44:57,332
you get the whole realm.

594
00:44:58,032 --> 00:45:00,532
Nobody comes in knowing much.

595
00:45:00,532 --> 00:45:07,792
But then you have the ones that have been working with Grandpa for the last four years and
they know pretty much everything.

596
00:45:08,232 --> 00:45:09,904
I use students to teach as well.

597
00:45:09,904 --> 00:45:14,350
If they prove to me they know it and I've got a student that's not, then we're going to
put them over there.

598
00:45:14,350 --> 00:45:16,131
We're going to have them help out as well.

599
00:45:16,131 --> 00:45:21,528
it just kind of networks my ability to teach the class.

600
00:45:23,351 --> 00:45:31,403
So I'm kind of curious, Jeff, with your, now that you've been doing this for a while,
what, as you were starting this program at your school, what were kind of the things that

601
00:45:31,403 --> 00:45:39,984
surprised you about kind of adding the electric vehicle program or any of the things about
just using the switch vehicles program specifically?

602
00:45:40,708 --> 00:45:43,869
The thing that shocked me the most, think, was the negativity.

603
00:45:44,189 --> 00:45:46,360
There was a whole lot of kickback.

604
00:45:46,360 --> 00:45:50,091
Of course, California and East Coast have both had them for a while.

605
00:45:50,091 --> 00:45:54,292
And we're in the middle Kansas, and there's a lot of miles between cities.

606
00:45:54,332 --> 00:45:58,653
And so nobody really, really was even thinking about that.

607
00:45:59,033 --> 00:46:01,694
So there's a lot of negativity at first.

608
00:46:01,694 --> 00:46:05,095
But industry has been the ones who have come in.

609
00:46:05,095 --> 00:46:08,236
I've even had mobile equipment.

610
00:46:08,252 --> 00:46:10,563
such as forklifts, pallet jacks, those kind of things.

611
00:46:10,563 --> 00:46:14,394
Those have all been electric for a very long time and they use propane.

612
00:46:14,475 --> 00:46:22,698
So we teach CNG, hydrogen and electric in these classes, alternative fuels, know, anything
but gasoline and diesel.

613
00:46:22,698 --> 00:46:31,021
So we've had a lot of industry support and with that support then has brought a lot of the
community support.

614
00:46:31,082 --> 00:46:34,413
Being tied in with WSU has not been a problem.

615
00:46:34,413 --> 00:46:36,824
I mean, that has been very helpful for us.

616
00:46:36,968 --> 00:46:40,069
It is a local college here, it is a state college.

617
00:46:40,430 --> 00:46:43,381
For a while we had a really good basketball team.

618
00:46:43,381 --> 00:46:47,352
We went to March Madness, Top Four, and those kind of things.

619
00:46:47,352 --> 00:46:57,086
So that helped out a lot when we paired up with WSU to get us the recognition and
everything that has really set all of our programs ablaze right now.

620
00:46:57,086 --> 00:46:58,367
We're growing so fast.

621
00:46:58,367 --> 00:47:04,079
Our enrollment is record every year, seems like, and we continuously grow.

622
00:47:04,079 --> 00:47:05,868
A lot of that is because of industry.

623
00:47:05,868 --> 00:47:20,460
and that backing we get from them and the support that we get to build employees for EV,
hybrid, parts departments, repairing generators, repairing charging stations, know,

624
00:47:20,460 --> 00:47:25,364
anything and everything all along the whole gambit.

625
00:47:27,085 --> 00:47:28,377
For sure, that's kind of interesting.

626
00:47:28,377 --> 00:47:30,739
You mentioned the negativity pushback.

627
00:47:30,739 --> 00:47:36,606
Was that kind of internal on the admin side among the students or just kind of across the
board?

628
00:47:36,606 --> 00:47:41,121
And then there was the actual industry asking for help in this.

629
00:47:41,508 --> 00:47:44,330
Well, to be honest with you, Admin here is incredible.

630
00:47:44,330 --> 00:47:48,273
They're always looking to be the leading edge.

631
00:47:48,554 --> 00:47:50,586
WSU Tech has always been leading edge.

632
00:47:50,586 --> 00:47:53,178
We out lead a lot of the CTE around here.

633
00:47:53,178 --> 00:47:55,640
Always building new programs.

634
00:47:55,640 --> 00:47:56,911
We check with the industry.

635
00:47:56,911 --> 00:47:59,943
If there's a new company coming to town, we meet with them.

636
00:47:59,943 --> 00:48:01,084
What do you need?

637
00:48:01,084 --> 00:48:02,526
What can we do to help you?

638
00:48:02,526 --> 00:48:04,257
And so that's always building new things.

639
00:48:04,257 --> 00:48:06,709
And of course, the EV program was part of that.

640
00:48:07,189 --> 00:48:10,382
As hybrids were starting to go to Chevrolet.

641
00:48:10,382 --> 00:48:13,934
You know, we had the Volt in the Bolt for a long time.

642
00:48:14,234 --> 00:48:18,617
And then, know, Ford had several imports are just going nuts with it.

643
00:48:18,617 --> 00:48:20,538
Hyundai is huge into it right now.

644
00:48:20,538 --> 00:48:22,518
Kia, all of them.

645
00:48:22,999 --> 00:48:24,850
They all need the employees.

646
00:48:24,850 --> 00:48:27,702
They all need the students that can fix these cars.

647
00:48:27,702 --> 00:48:31,314
And the old guys, you know, I'm one of the odd ones, I guess.

648
00:48:31,314 --> 00:48:35,516
I always did like the technology, but the old guys, you know, they say, no, I don't want
to touch that.

649
00:48:35,516 --> 00:48:37,767
I'm not, you know, that's new.

650
00:48:37,968 --> 00:48:39,308
Give me the old stuff.

651
00:48:39,372 --> 00:48:41,453
And so they stick with the old stuff.

652
00:48:41,814 --> 00:48:47,840
But the new generation coming up is going to have to learn it because it's going to be
there whether they want it or not.

653
00:48:47,840 --> 00:48:48,931
And they're embracing it.

654
00:48:48,931 --> 00:48:49,802
They're loving it.

655
00:48:49,802 --> 00:48:52,344
I think the switch has a lot to do with that.

656
00:48:52,785 --> 00:48:58,390
The projects that we do here keep them involved, keep them headed in that direction.

657
00:48:59,031 --> 00:49:00,303
Been real good for us.

658
00:49:00,303 --> 00:49:01,234
great.

659
00:49:02,316 --> 00:49:03,588
No, that's great to hear.

660
00:49:03,588 --> 00:49:14,162
guess for any teachers or anyone listening who's maybe curious about getting it into their
school, are there any kind of words of wisdom or recommendations you have, Chuck, for

661
00:49:14,162 --> 00:49:18,567
someone to try and push this and kind of get this successfully implemented?

662
00:49:19,338 --> 00:49:20,490
try to get this thing stop.

663
00:49:20,490 --> 00:49:23,477
Give my admin a call.

664
00:49:23,477 --> 00:49:24,098
Give my admin a call.

665
00:49:24,098 --> 00:49:25,200
Give my admin a call.

666
00:49:25,200 --> 00:49:27,121
The retention is up.

667
00:49:27,121 --> 00:49:28,601
Their enrollment is up.

668
00:49:28,601 --> 00:49:30,462
The excitement is up.

669
00:49:30,643 --> 00:49:38,627
Everything is up and it's great to see and it's minimal effort on my part.

670
00:49:38,627 --> 00:49:47,154
You know, I put the classes together and I teach it and the students get excited and
spread the word and you know, Facebook posts, they're recording themselves in class and

671
00:49:47,154 --> 00:49:48,533
posting on Facebook.

672
00:49:48,533 --> 00:49:49,994
are asking about it.

673
00:49:50,175 --> 00:49:52,877
I've got brothers that are coming in.

674
00:49:52,877 --> 00:49:57,971
I had a mother and son in my classes, and she's all excited.

675
00:49:57,971 --> 00:49:59,702
She's going to work for Land Rover.

676
00:49:59,883 --> 00:50:03,125
She's all fired up for Land Rover, so that's where she's headed.

677
00:50:03,546 --> 00:50:10,391
I don't know how many EV things they have out there, but they're going to fall in line
with everybody else too, know, this way it is.

678
00:50:10,752 --> 00:50:15,055
yeah, call my admin if you've got any questions at all.

679
00:50:15,055 --> 00:50:16,586
They'll let you know.

680
00:50:17,655 --> 00:50:18,824
That's great to hear.

681
00:50:18,824 --> 00:50:21,128
Was there anything you wanted to add to that Brandon?

682
00:50:21,300 --> 00:50:24,893
Is there anything you wanted to add to that, No, it's Chuck's right.

683
00:50:24,893 --> 00:50:25,844
It's about the admin.

684
00:50:25,844 --> 00:50:30,918
It's about the support of whoever your superintendent is, CTE director, the teacher.

685
00:50:30,918 --> 00:50:34,021
If you get all the buy -in, the admin is going to pull the trigger.

686
00:50:34,021 --> 00:50:37,674
It's a lot easier once you just get everyone on board.

687
00:50:37,674 --> 00:50:40,716
That is the thing is you just got to show people what it is.

688
00:50:40,797 --> 00:50:42,538
Go drive to a local school that has one.

689
00:50:42,538 --> 00:50:43,589
We're around the country now.

690
00:50:43,589 --> 00:50:47,824
So if you are a teacher out there, go to our website, look at the map.

691
00:50:47,824 --> 00:50:52,697
Click the closest one to you and take your principal, your directors there and go see it
for yourself.

692
00:50:52,697 --> 00:50:57,060
I think that is probably the best way to sell it is go and see a program in action.

693
00:50:57,381 --> 00:50:59,242
It's not just a website or an image at that point.

694
00:50:59,242 --> 00:51:05,026
It's a real living and breathing program that students are excited about and want to talk
about it all night long.

695
00:51:06,114 --> 00:51:10,845
I'll invite everybody to on down, see what we're doing.

696
00:51:10,845 --> 00:51:13,636
As a matter of fact, I'll throw a little quick plug out there.

697
00:51:13,636 --> 00:51:16,467
You're more than welcome to show up on the 20th and 10th in the morning.

698
00:51:16,467 --> 00:51:19,938
We got a ribbon cutting on a brand new lab that we just remodeled.

699
00:51:19,938 --> 00:51:23,749
And if it wasn't for this program, I don't think that would have happened.

700
00:51:23,749 --> 00:51:26,430
Industry is, like I said, is backing us huge.

701
00:51:26,430 --> 00:51:28,611
And we got a state of the art lab going out here.

702
00:51:28,611 --> 00:51:32,572
We got wood tops on the toolboxes so we can do all the EV stuff.

703
00:51:33,238 --> 00:51:34,832
you're more than welcome to show up.

704
00:51:34,832 --> 00:51:39,420
I would love to have everybody come out here on the 20th and be here for that ribbon
cutting.

705
00:51:39,522 --> 00:51:41,946
So yeah, come on out.

706
00:51:42,773 --> 00:51:43,634
No, that's great.

707
00:51:43,634 --> 00:51:48,619
I appreciate the invite and hope people listening to this will join as well.

708
00:51:48,800 --> 00:51:57,120
Brandon, I think you kind of alluded to it, but since we're kind of coming up on the time
here anyway, what is the best way to learn more about Switch Vehicles for anyone who might

709
00:51:57,120 --> 00:52:00,050
be curious to kind of engage with you in your tune?

710
00:52:00,050 --> 00:52:03,362
the top here anyway, what is the best way to learn more about Switch vehicles for you
know, less curious, the more engaged with you in this?

711
00:52:03,362 --> 00:52:04,703
Yeah, I would just go online and go to theswitchlab .com.

712
00:52:04,703 --> 00:52:11,958
Our website has everything you need about our programs, how you can implement it, how you
can teach it, what it comes with, the safety procedures.

713
00:52:12,004 --> 00:52:14,216
of the different models and options we offer.

714
00:52:14,216 --> 00:52:17,880
think the website, if you really want to dig into it, is the best place to go.

715
00:52:17,880 --> 00:52:21,904
If you want to see our cool photos, then you can follow us on Instagram at the Switch Lab.

716
00:52:21,904 --> 00:52:31,404
But I think the website is the best way to kind of understand what we're doing and how you
can apply it to your programs at whatever school you instruct at.

717
00:52:32,653 --> 00:52:32,953
That's great.

718
00:52:32,953 --> 00:52:40,715
And Chuck, guess if there's anyone who's maybe an aspiring student who's looking to get
involved, what's the best way to learn more about your program?

719
00:52:41,748 --> 00:52:45,239
Just go online, wsutech .com.

720
00:52:45,239 --> 00:52:47,280
Look at costs and so forth.

721
00:52:47,280 --> 00:52:53,611
You're going to find that lot of colleges charge way more than we do for automotive
programs.

722
00:52:54,011 --> 00:52:57,012
And you can get a dual associates degree.

723
00:52:57,032 --> 00:53:06,575
You can take the automotive program and then spend another semester and take all the EV
classes, build the switch in the process, and end up with two associates degrees.

724
00:53:06,575 --> 00:53:09,335
Of course, all your gen eds have to be done in there too.

725
00:53:10,958 --> 00:53:20,363
We've actually got a program in high schools that if they start their junior year and they
really want to work at it, they can graduate high school and graduate college with a

726
00:53:20,363 --> 00:53:23,967
associate's degree in either automotive or alternative field.

727
00:53:24,449 --> 00:53:25,835
So that's a huge...

728
00:53:25,835 --> 00:53:26,646
that's amazing.

729
00:53:26,646 --> 00:53:28,456
That's a great opportunity.

730
00:53:29,097 --> 00:53:33,841
Well, for sure, we'll definitely have links to all of that in the show notes today.

731
00:53:33,841 --> 00:53:37,813
But both Chuck and Brandon, I just want to say thank you so much for coming on today.

732
00:53:37,813 --> 00:53:48,631
This is obviously a round that I am personally passionate about and great to see how much
it's grown and how honestly approachable it's become now for so many more students and

733
00:53:48,631 --> 00:53:49,811
teaching admins out there.

734
00:53:49,811 --> 00:53:52,563
So I just want to say thank you both for coming on today.

735
00:53:52,710 --> 00:53:54,051
Thank you so much, Chase.

736
00:53:54,099 --> 00:53:55,334
yeah, been fun.

737
00:54:00,663 --> 00:54:04,846
Thank you again for tuning into the 50th episode of the Grid Connections podcast.

738
00:54:04,846 --> 00:54:11,289
I hope you enjoyed our conversation with Brandon Watt from Switch Vehicles and Chuck
Kauffman from WSU Tech.

739
00:54:11,289 --> 00:54:19,714
It's truly inspiring to see how they're bringing electric vehicle education to the next
generation and preparing students for careers in this rapidly growing industry.

740
00:54:19,815 --> 00:54:26,298
If you found today's episode valuable, I encourage you to share with at least one other
person who would enjoy it or benefit from it as well.

741
00:54:26,298 --> 00:54:27,637
And don't forget,

742
00:54:27,637 --> 00:54:33,652
Leaving a positive view on our podcast page helps us reach more listeners and continue
delivering content that matters.

743
00:54:33,753 --> 00:54:41,861
As always, we appreciate your support and we're excited to keep bringing you more episodes
that dive deep into the future of energy, transportation, and our electrical grid, tying

744
00:54:41,861 --> 00:54:43,342
all of them together.

745
00:54:43,403 --> 00:54:47,915
Stay tuned for more and until next week, this is the Grid Connections podcast signing off.