Trade School hosts EV and Hybrid Vehicle Showcase for Automotive Students

Palm Beach State College’s automotive bays became an interactive showroom for the future as Lithia & Driveway, through its GreenCars platform, brought electric and hybrid vehicles to campus for automotive students to climb into, explore and discuss with dealership professionals. 

The event comes ahead of the February launch of Palm Beach State’s Electric, Hybrid and Alternative Fuels Vehicle Technician Program, giving students an early look at the technology and career opportunities shaping the future of automotive service. 

Representatives from Audi Coral Springs, Audi Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach Hyundai and Acura of Palm Beach displayed the electric and hybrid models, spoke with students about vehicle technology and discussed employment opportunities at their dealerships. The event connected students with industry leaders while highlighting the growing demand for technicians trained to service electric, hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles. 

Lithia & Driveway, part of Lithia Motors Inc., is the nation’s largest automotive retail network, with dealership locations and online services across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. GreenCars, an affiliated Lithia & Driveway platform, provides consumer education and shopping resources for hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric vehicles. 

Lithia Motors has 466 dealerships representing 57 brands in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. 

“Education is very important. When you’re certified in EVs and hybrid cars, you make more money,” said Cindy Giacalone, senior recruiter for Lithia & Driveway, during remarks at the event. She added that certified technicians can earn “anywhere from 12% to 19%.” 

“We have 27 dealerships in the state of Florida, and we’ve got excellent benefits.”

The Lithia & Driveway and Palm Beach State College partnership began after Lithia & Driveway acquired West Palm Beach Hyundai and Acura of Palm Beach in November 2025. 

“We wanted to build a strong local talent pipeline,” said Giacalone. “After speaking with our technicians, employees, and customers, Palm Beach State College was consistently recommended for its automotive program. I reached out to PBSC to introduce students to Lithia & Driveway, our career opportunities, benefits, and core values, and that initial conversation grew into a partnership.” 

Doreen Singer, Palm Beach State College’s automotive program director, said the service managers and foremen who attended spoke with students about EV and hybrid technology and helped them envision careers in the field. 

“It was an educational event designed to inform students about the technology and the opportunities available to them,” said Singer. “Seeing electric and hybrid vehicles up close helps students understand the technology.” 

Students moved from vehicle to vehicle, with some climbing inside the electric and hybrid models to explore their features and others gathering around dealership representatives to learn about the technology and career paths behind them.    

For automotive student Jessica VanRavenswaay, the showcase offered an opportunity to see the technology firsthand. 

“It kind of opened my eyes up to how electric vehicles are going to be in the future, and seeing all the options that they can do,” said VanRavenswaay. “It was very appealing. I think they are super high-tech.”

VanRavenswaay particularly liked the Audi S6 e-tron. Although she said she currently prefers traditional gasoline-powered vehicles, she added that EVs are “definitely something of the future.” 

“As mechanics evolve, we have to be able to learn how to work on those vehicles,” she said. “We’ll be seeing more and more of them.” 

By the end of the showcase, the automotive bays had become more than a place for students to learn repairs. They became a meeting point for emerging technology, industry expertise, and the next generation of automotive technicians.