PBSC Electric Vehicle Training Program Receives $1.1 Million State Boost

Palm Beach State College received a $1.1 million state investment Sept. 17 to support its upcoming Electric, Hybrid and Alternative Fuels Vehicle Technician program.

Florida Rep. Debra Tendrich, who secured the funding in Florida's 2026-2027 budget, presented the College with a ceremonial check during a press conference at the Lake Worth campus. The appropriation complements $4.1 million in federal funding, bringing the project’s projected total investment to $5.2 million.

“When I looked at the request, I didn’t just see equipment,” said Tendrich. “I saw job opportunities, local career paths and students gaining skills that employers will need more and more every single year moving forward.”

The funding will support specialized diagnostic and training equipment for instruction in electric, hybrid, alternative-fuel and diesel vehicle systems. The 850-hour program, scheduled to launch in February 2027, will combine classroom and hands-on training in high-voltage safety, batteries, electric motors, power electronics and modern diagnostic systems.

The program will help students prepare for both established and emerging automotive technology.

“At the end of the day, we are going to need folks like you who are going to be able to fix the car,” said PBSC President Ava L. Parker, JD. “What’s important to me is that I want to make sure that our students know how to fix cars that are going to be on the road forever, but also that they’re prepared to fix newer vehicles.”

Doreen Singer, director of transportation technologies and program director of electric, hybrid alternative fuels at PBSC’s Lake Worth campus, said modern automotive service requires technical expertise in complex electrical and digital systems.

“In many cases, the first step in fixing a vehicle isn’t turning a wrench,” Singer said. “It’s connecting diagnostic equipment, interpreting data and figuring out what the technology is telling you.”

Automotive students Noah Strano of Riviera Beach and Jessica VanRavenswaay of Jupiter plan to enroll in PBSC’s electric, hybrid and alternative fuels vehicle technician program when it launches in February 2027.

For Strano, the program will provide an opportunity to broaden his skills beyond conventional gasoline-powered vehicles as electric and hybrid technology becomes more common.

“I don’t want to be restricted to gasoline,” Strano said.

Strano is eager to start the program. “I definitely want to do it just to gain the extra knowledge,” he said. “Knowing how to work on regular gasoline cars and EV cars, I feel like would be very beneficial especially since the world is trying to transition over to hybrids and EVs they're going to need more mechanics that know how to be able to work on these types of cars.”

VanRavenswaay said her interest in automotive technology began with working on cars alongside her father.

She decided to pursue automotive, and now, EV, as a career because of her passion for vehicles. “That led me to going to school here. It’s been a great experience so far.”

Tendrich said the $1.1 million appropriation will help Palm Beach State College expand access to specialized training, equip students for emerging automotive careers and strengthen the skilled workforce employers will need across Palm Beach County and Florida.

“What I’m really excited about is what happens next with this check: the opportunities this creates for Palm Beach State students and the workforce we are building right here at home,” Tendrich said. “We’re giving students specialized skills that can lead to real careers and making sure that Palm Beach County has the workforce it needs as vehicle technology changes.”