LYNCHBURG, TN - Motlow State Community College’s McMinnville campus is excited to host its first Electric Vehicle Showcase on April 22 and 23, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This free event is made possible through a grant from the Drive Electric Tennessee program and will allow attendees to ride or drive electric vehicles (EVs).

The event leads up to the launch of Motlow’s new Electric Vehicle Engineering Technology (EVET) program at the college’s Automation and Robotics Training Center (ARTC). The program is designed to train students in the operation, service, and construction of electric vehicles and their charging infrastructure. Motlow invites the public, as well as prospective students, to enjoy this hands-on opportunity to explore how EVs have become safer and more sustainable than ever before.

Jenni Kidd, Senior Project Manager of the East Tennessee Clean Fuels (ETCF) Coalition, shared:

“The East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition and its affiliated Drive Electric Tennessee program were recently awarded funding through Electrify America's Cycle 4 Zero-Emission Vehicle Awareness and Education opportunity. We are excited to partner with Motlow State Community College on the Volunteer Electric Vehicle Experience (VEVE) project. VEVE focuses on bringing EV education and experiential learning opportunities to higher education institutions across the state. We’re thrilled to participate in this event with Motlow and the greater McMinnville community!”

Motlow was selected as a partner in this initiative as it becomes the second community college in Tennessee to offer an EVET degree. With Tennessee's automotive industry booming, demand for EV-savvy mechanics and technicians continues to grow. Graduates of the program will be equipped to service batteries, maintain charging stations, and prepare new EVs for the market—all while following rigorous safety protocols.

Attendees of the showcase can test drive electric vehicles from Nissan, Chevrolet, and Tesla, win prizes, and learn more about the future of transportation and auto manufacturing. For more information on the EVET Program, visit motlow.edu/ev.

Tennessee’s Community Colleges is a system of 13 colleges offering high-quality, affordable education to help students achieve their goals in two years or less. For more, visit tbr.edu or motlow.edu.

*More on the submitted photo above this article (L to R): Larry Flatt, Executive Director of the Automation and Robotics Training Center; Ashley Argo, Enrollment and Admissions Counselor; and Richard Blackburn, Faculty Lead of the Electric Vehicle Engineering Technology program.