The National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC) hosted NAFTC Expo I from May 14 to 16 at Seminole State College, underwritten with support from the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC).

Similar NAFTC events were previously called Professional Development meetings. When he took over as Acting Director of the NAFTC last year, Micheal Smyth made a commitment to update the content and name of these meetings and host a minimum of two each year.

“We really believe that getting our consortium members together like this is one of the most important aspects of what we do,” Smyth commented. “Everyone collaborates on training problems, and learns how other instructors and technicians see things.”

The event featured updated propane training and activities with the ATech Bi-fuel Engine Performance Trainer and the ICOM North America propane system installed in the Hybrid Electric Vehicle Training Educator (HEVTE).

Mark Schmidt, NAFTC national trainer, welcomes attendees to NAFTC Expo I. Credit: NAFTC.

PERC and the NAFTC collaborated to create a training curricula, Propane Autogas Vehicle Technician Training, and to host no-cost educational sessions across the country for interested automotive technicians, fleet managers, school bus maintenance personnel, and other parties interested in propane autogas technologies.

Stuart Flatow, vice president of safety and training at PERC explained, “The propane course was developed with input from the propane industry, original equipment manufacturers, and automotive instructors associated with technical learning institutions. It was great to get everyone together to see how it has developed.”

Recently ATech Training, in collaboration with the NAFTC, ICOM North America, and PERC, designed, constructed, and donated to the NAFTC a bi-fuel engine performance educator to support this training course. The training unit, a fully functioning, stand-mounted gasoline and propane bi-fuel engine, allows students to see the workings of a bi-fuel vehicle running on propane autogas and gasoline, from fuel tank to injectors, and to diagnose faults placed in the system by the class instructor through both electronic and mechanical means.

NAFTC training aids, like the ATech training unit and HEVTE, are available to consortium members to use upon request for events or training sessions.

Mark Schmidt, NAFTC national trainer, introduces fault codes into the ATech Bi-fuel Engine Performance Trainer. Credit: NAFTC.

Expo attendees also heard about propane industry news and system advancements from PERC, ATech Automotive, Blossman Gas, ICOM North America, Roush CleanTech, and Superior Energy Systems. The NAFTC has opened up their Expos to presentations from industry and private sector entities that can bring information to NAFTC member schools that will assist them in keeping their alternative fuel vehicle program successful.

Vice President of Business Development for Blossman Gas Mark Denton shares information about propane products with Expo I attendees. Credit: NAFTC.

The three-day meeting gave members a chance to get to know each other and the NAFTC staff.

On the final day of the event, attendees traveled to Kennedy Space Center to tour the facilities and view displays.

Patrick English, professor of automotive technology from Ferris State University commented, “I’ve gained a lot of information and education from this event, but I’ve also gained a lot of contacts that are going to help me get this information out to the people who need it.”

Paul Soar, professor of automotive technology at Florida State College at Jacksonville and Mark Schmidt, NAFTC national trainer, stand in front of the Atlantis Display at Kennedy Space Center. Credit: NAFTC.

A portion of the NAFTC Expo I attendees gather outside the CFADA Professional Automotive Training Center at Seminole State College. Credit: NAFTC.

A short video of the NAFTC Expo I at Seminole State College in Sanford, Florida can be viewed below.

NAFTC Expo II will be held October 28–29 in Las Vegas, Nevada in conjunction with the NAFTC’s AFV partnership with AAPEX. Participating attendees will receive free entry to the SEMA/AAPEX show October 30 through November 1, 2018.

To learn more about joining the NAFTC and attending NAFTC Expo II, call the NAFTC at 304-293-7882 or email Micheal Smyth, Acting Director of the NAFTC at micheal.smyth@mail.wvu.edu.

This month’s article comes from the NAFTC Electric Drive Career and Technical Education (CTE) Automotive Technician Training and discusses scan tool use for diagnostics of electric vehicles.

Not too long ago, an OEM scan tool was often the exception rather than the rule at the average automotive repair facility. Although dealership technicians have normally used manufacturer-specific OEM scan tools, such equipment was not commonly found in an independent automotive repair shop.

Traditionally, most independent shops have relied on aftermarket scan tools that were designed to work with a variety of Asian, domestic, and/or European vehicles. While this remains true for many independent shops, more and more independent shops are using personal computer based original equipment manufacturer (OEM) scan tools, particularly on late-model vehicles, as access to such tools improves and in some cases cost of the tool has gone down.

Many of today’s vehicles have several dozen modules, each with their own datastream and diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs). Hybrid and electric vehicles can have especially complex self-diagnostic systems. Some aftermarket scan tools manufacturers may be challenged to keep up with the demands of scan data in new vehicles. The technician can expect to work with both OEM and aftermarket scan tools during his or her career.

Service Information for Late-Model Vehicles

The state of automotive service information today is similar to that of scan tools. While many aftermarket repair shops use information services such as Alldata or Mitchell, independent access to OEM service information has improved in recent years. Subscription costs for such access may be worthwhile for independent shops that service a significant amount of vehicles of a particular make or model. A list of OEM service information website addresses is maintained by the National Automotive Service Information Task Force (NASTF).

Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Scan Tool Data

Three types of scan tools are available to the technician:

• Generic On-Board Diagnostics II (OBD-II) scan tool (many brands)
• Aftermarket scan tool with enhanced coverage (Snap-On, OTC, others)
• OEM scan tool (developed and approved by an OEM, used in dealerships)

As the electric components of a hybrid vehicle’s powertrain influence the vehicle’s operation and could adversely affect emissions in the event of an issue, hybrid powertrain operation typically follows OBD-II standards for the vehicle’s data link connector (DLC), diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs), and communication standards. As with conventional vehicles, most hybrid vehicles produced for model year (MY) 2008 and later also use OBD-II CAN (Controller Area Network), in which CAN is the communication protocol for the powertrain, as well as the vehicle’s DLC.

Although electric vehicles are not required to comply with OBD-II DLC connector standards or use the OBD-II CAN communication protocol, many do. Notable exceptions include some of the smaller EV manufacturers, such as Tesla, which use proprietary scan tools.

Generic OBD-II Scan Tools

Although a generic OBD-II scan tool (or a scan tool that has been set to OBD-II generic mode) will normally be able to access limited scan data from the vehicle’s engine control module (ECM), it will probably be unable to access HV-specific powertrain modules such as the HV battery pack ECU, if equipped. Generic OBD-II scan tools are usually of little to no use to a technician who must diagnose a problem in a hybrid or electric vehicle.

Some aftermarket scan tools may not display all data parameters or may not display data correctly, when connected to hybrid and/or electric vehicles. This scan tool show more than 20,000 amps of charging current flowing into the HB battery pack of a 2007 Toyota Camry hybrid. Actual charging current for this vehicle is no more than 200 amps, and normally much less. Credit: NAFTC.

Aftermarket OBD-II Scan Tools With Enhanced Coverage

Some aftermarket scan tools that are enhanced for a particular make and model of a hybrid vehicle may be able to access such modules. The quality of access can vary widely. Future access is also dependent on the level of support that the scan tool manufacturer is willing to provide. The technician should determine the strengths and limitations of a scan tool and become familiar with its operation before using it to diagnose an issue.

Some enhanced scan tools:

• May not be able to access all modules
• May not be able to access all data within a particular module
• May not be able to activate some bidirectional controls
• May, in some instances, display inaccurate data

Many manufacturers of aftermarket scan tools publish lists of available vehicle coverage, and regularly update their scan tool software to add additional coverage as new vehicles are released. Vehicle coverage for a particular scan tool software release is often available on the scan tool manufacturer’s website.

Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Scan Tools

Although any scan tool may, at times, have issues accessing and displaying data correctly, OEM scan tools are generally considered to offer the most complete and up-to-date coverage for a given make of vehicle, as compared to other scan tools. As dealerships almost always use OEM scan tools to diagnose the vehicles that they sell, it is in the best interests of each vehicle manufacturer to make that tool as useful and accurate as possible.

Many OEM scan tools (and several aftermarket scan tools) are PC-based. In other words, the scan tool software runs on a Windows-based PC or laptop, rather than a proprietary device. A proprietary vehicle interface module, which connects the PC to the vehicle, serves as the gateway between the technician’s computer and the vehicle. The interface module may connect to a cable that connects to the vehicle’s DLC, or may be incorporated into the cable itself.

PC-based OEM scan tools compatible with model year 2013 vehicles include:

• Consult III+ (Nissan, Infiniti)
• IDS (Integrated Diagnostic System) (Ford, Lincoln, Mercury)
• GDS (Global Diagnostic System) (Hyundai, Kia)
• HDS (Honda Diagnostic Scanner) (Honda, Acura)
• GDS 2 (Global Diagnostic System 2) (General Motors)
• Techstream and Techstream Lite (Toyota, Lexus, Scion)

Many of the above scan tools have been available for several years or more.

Some older vehicles may not be compatible with current OEM scan tools. For such vehicles, a previous generation of a particular OEM’s scan tool may be required. Vehicle manufacturers can provide information on exact coverage. One source of information on OEM scan tool coverage, as well as OEM service information, is the NASTF website.

Learn more about electric vehicle scan tools in the NAFTC Electric Drive CTE Automotive Technician course.