Instructors at Pulaski Technical College South Campus in Arkansas recently wrapped up a week-long training course for converting vehicles to run on compressed natural gas (CNG). According to the Arkansas Advanced Energy Association, it’s the state’s first CNG training program and will help meet the demand in Arkansas for vehicle conversion to CNG.
Within the Train-the-Trainer workshop, led by Fort Smith, Ark.-based company Falcon CNG LLC, instructors received hands-on instruction on the CNG conversion process. They converted a pickup truck with a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-certified conversion kit as well as a standard, non-EPA certified conversion kit for training purposes only. A small, home-fueling-type CNG station was also installed, which the school will be able to use to fuel its own natural-gas-powered vehicles.
“Having the state’s first CNG training program is much needed if we intend to make CNG part of the state’s comprehensive energy program,” says Barry Rowton, president of Falcon CNG LLC.
At Pulaski Tech, a 40’ x 90’ mobile training station has been built on-site that will allow the instructors to set up work stations and give students an opportunity for a hands-on experience of configuring a CNG system correctly. The college will award its CNG certificate to students who are already enrolled in its automotive technology program and take four additional CNG-focused classes.
