Full speed ahead for local motor vehicle students

College motor vehicle students at colleges in West Sussex are benefitting from thousands of pounds worth of investment in new training technology.

At Chichester College and Crawley College, the Chichester College Group has invested nearly £150,000 in four CarTrain hybrid and electric vehicle trainers, two sets at each college.

The investment is part of the Greener Sussex initiative – a project funded by the Department for Education’s Skills Development Fund and delivered by FE Sussex member colleges across the local region.

The project aims to address the employer training needs of the future, with a focus on sustainable technologies.

The new CarTrain rigs, which cost around £35,000 each, simulate electric and hybrid cars, enabling motor vehicle students to gain much needed skills training in a safe environment, 

Andrew Green, Chief Executive at Chichester College Group, said: “These rigs form part of a wider Sussex-wide training initiative which will ensure young people are leaving college with the skills that employers need.

“As electric powered vehicles grow in usage, replacing the traditional combustion powered vehicles in the UK, this investment will enable our motor vehicle students to learn the latest skills, using cutting edge equipment and technology.

“It means they will very much be in the driving seat when it comes to achieving their future career goals, equipped with the skills they will need to get ahead.”