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HCC’s electric vehicle training program receives $200,000 from BP America

May 21, 2024

Officials from BP America presented HCC with a donation of $200,000 at the recent Board of Trustees meeting.

The Houston Community College (HCC) Transportation Center of Excellence - Electric Vehicle training program received a donation of $200,000 at the HCC Board of Trustees meeting on May 15.

Funds are being used to provide an eight-hour safety and fundamentals course for more than 300 City of Houston’s and Harris County fleet department employees.

The HCC course equips technicians with the knowledge required for repairing and maintaining electric vehicles.

"We are proud to support the HCC Transportation Center of Excellence - Electric Vehicle training program," said Mark Crawford, senior vice president at BP America. "This partnership aligns with BP's commitment to sustainable livelihoods and advancing the energy transition."

The program began on April 1, 2024, at the HCC North Forest Campus – Automotive Training Center. It has already trained more than 100 city and county  fleet mechanics and automotive repair technicians. HCC’s instructors utilize state-of-the-art equipment for hands-on training and classroom instruction, with technicians learning potential risks associated with high-voltage components of electric vehicles.

“We are delighted to be at the forefront of this important education to equip Houstonians with the knowledge and skills to maintain electric vehicles,” said Chancellor Margaret Ford Fisher, Ed.D. “This generous donation is a win for the partners involved and for helping to ensure a sustainable future.”

The donation was presented during the HCC Board of Trustees meeting. Nick Hadjigeorge, interim chief resilience and sustainability for Houston, and Lisa Lin, director of sustainability for Harris County attended the event along with BP officials.