Electric and Autonomous Vehicles Students Pass ASE xEV Test

January 8, 2025

All seven students enrolled in the Electric and Autonomous Vehicles AOS degree program at Hudson Valley Community College recently passed the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) xEV Level One test on their first attempt.

The test, offered by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), provides certification for high-voltage electrical safety awareness for automotive technicians and tests the students’ ability to identify the hazards and risks of working on or near electrified propulsion vehicles (xEVs) and/or near high-voltage components of those vehicles.

The students’ ASE xEV certification will remain valid for three years and each will take the ASE xEV Level Two test at the end of the spring semester.

“We are so proud of our students for not only passing this test, but working extremely hard all semester long to get to this point,” said Department Chair of Applied Technologies Chris McNally. “This is an amazing opportunity for each and every one of them and it will look great on their resumes when applying to employers. Because the certification is relatively new, few technicians in the country have earned it so far, so this is truly an exciting accomplishment.”

The Electric and Autonomous Vehicles AOS degree program was launched in the fall of 2021. The two-year, 63-credit program focuses on the skills needed to diagnose and repair the emerging technologies found in electric, hybrid and autonomous vehicles, as well as advanced driver assistance systems and vehicle cybersecurity.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, hybrid-electric and electric vehicle sales have seen significant growth in sales over the past decade and that growth is fueling the need for more trained technicians. Over a 10-year span from 2011 to 2021, hybrid-electric vehicle sales increased from 268,749 to 798,992, a 197% increase, while electric vehicle sales grew from 10,092 to 459,426, a 4,452% increase.

The program is offered by the Applied Technologies Department and prepares students to enter the workforce immediately following graduation.

To learn more about ASE xEV certifications, visit www.ase.com/ev.