<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1" ?><rss version="2.0"><channel><title>Andrew Page Auto Education</title><link>http://autoeducation.thisisbrandnew.co.uk/news</link><description>Andrew Page Auto Education News Feed</description><language>en-gb</language><lastBuildDate>Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:07:18 UTC</lastBuildDate><ttl>15</ttl><item><id>33</id><title>Hybrid Regenerative Braking Systems, The Next Generation of Braking </title><description>The kinetic force of braking can now be used in hybrid and electric vehicles as a capture store, to re-use as electric energy; this new technology is called regenerative braking systems. </description><article><img src="http://autoeducation.thisisbrandnew.co.uk/news/_imagebank/Hybrid.jpg" alt="Hybrid Regenerative Braking Systems, The Next Generation of Braking "  />&lt;p&gt;The kinetic force of braking can now be used in hybrid and electric vehicles as a capture store, to re-use as electric energy; this new technology is called &lt;strong&gt;regenerative braking systems&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The definition of regenerative braking is &amp;lsquo;the capture of momentum from slowing the vehicle down so that the energy from the vehicles moment is not lost&amp;rsquo;. Hybrids and other electric vehicles capture the energy generated from braking as electricity for re-use by the drive train. Other vehicles capture the regeneration braking as a kinetic force to be released later to assist the powertrain or other under-the-bonnet components.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A good example of this new braking system is in the Toyota Prius; the motors which give the car locomotion are turned in reverse during braking turning them into generators, returning the power to the batteries to regenerate them.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In this system the amount of brake pedal pressure denotes how much braking power is manual versus how much electrical energy is recaptured. This means that the harder the pedal is pressed, then the more effort is used to stop car, most hybrid and electronic cars work in similar fashion. To help with this, software is also used to control the amount of braking that is regenerative and how much is manual.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Regenerative Braking was first seen in the mass transit industry, this means trains and trollies. Electrical trains don&amp;rsquo;t use manual brakes but instead use a similar system to that of a hybrid called &amp;lsquo;traction motors&amp;rsquo;, these electric motors are used in order to provide resistance to the wheels turning thus slowing the moving vehicle down. Developing these systems has helped to build regenerative braking before being brought into and developed by the automotive industry. Most systems developed today automotive sector started early life in the on rail systems.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Recapture braking will become more common in vehicles as the technology develops as all vehicles can eventually benefit from it.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;If you&amp;rsquo;re interested in learning more about how to safely work on Hybrid cars then try our &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://autoeducation.co.uk/courses/other-courses/hybrid-electric-vehicles-&amp;quot;&gt;Bosch VSH24 Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Systems&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; course. Either click on the link or just type the course code VSH24 into the &amp;lsquo;search for courses&amp;rsquo; box to see the full course over view and dates of courses running in your area. &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</article><link>http://autoeducation.thisisbrandnew.co.uk/news/article/hybrid-regenerative-braking-systems-the-next-generation-of-braking-</link><guid isPermaLink="false">http://</guid><pubDate>2012-01-18 14:01:00</pubDate></item><item><id>32</id><title>Service for Electrical and Hybrid Vehicles Part 2- How Hybrids Work?! </title><description>There has been a significant increase hybrid cars on the road in the past few years and with many automotive manufacturers in the industry set to announce their own versions, </description><article><img src="http://autoeducation.thisisbrandnew.co.uk/news/_imagebank/car_1.jpg" alt="Service for Electrical and Hybrid Vehicles Part 2- How Hybrids Work?! "  />&lt;p&gt;There has been a significant increase in the numbers of hybrid cars on the road in the past few years and with many automotive manufacturers in the industry set to announce their own versions, hybrids will soon be as common place on our roads as the &amp;nbsp;modern diesel. With this in mind many will be asking the common question; what goes on under the bonnet?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Any vehicle which combined two or more sources of power that can directly or indirectly provide propulsion power is a hybrid, most cars on the roads are gasoline-electric hybrids however Peugeot Citroen are currently developing two diesel- electric hybrid cars.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The gasoline-electric hybrid is exactly how it sounds, the car is powered by both gasoline and electricity, which work to significantly increase the mileage and reduce the emissions of a car that runs purely on gasoline or diesel while overcoming the short comings of an electric car which is purely run by electricity. Some would say it&amp;rsquo;s the &amp;lsquo;best of both worlds&amp;rsquo;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Gasoline-electric hybrid contain the following parts&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Gasoline Engines&lt;/strong&gt;- these are similar to that found in a &amp;lsquo;normal&amp;rsquo; car however then engine in hybrids are smaller and uses advanced technologies to reduce emissions and increase efficiency. &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Fuel Tank-&lt;/strong&gt; in hybrids is the energy storage device for the gasoline engine. Petrol has a much higher density to batteries; i.e. it takes about 1,000 pounds of batteries to store as much energy as 1 gallon (7 pounds) of gasoline.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Electric Motor&lt;/strong&gt;- this is the most sophisticated part of the car. The advanced electronics allow it to act as a motor as well as a generator. When the car needs to it is able to draw energy from the batteries to accelerate the car and also act as a generator, it can slow the car down and return the energy to the batteries. &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Generator&lt;/strong&gt;- acts only to produce electrical power. It is used mostly on series hybrids.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Batteries&lt;/strong&gt;- energy storage for the electric motor, unlike in a gasoline which just purely powers the engine, the electric motor can also put power back into the batteries as well as drawing energy from them. &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Transmission&lt;/strong&gt;- this can vary depending on the make and model of the hybrid car but essentially it has the same basic function as the traditional car. &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;If this article has sparked your imagination then why not book onto one of our hybrid courses and train to gain today. Courses start from &amp;pound;350 + vat per person.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;</article><link>http://autoeducation.thisisbrandnew.co.uk/news/article/service-for-electrical-and-hybrid-vehicles-part-2-how-hybrids-work?-</link><guid isPermaLink="false">http://</guid><pubDate>2011-12-01 10:23:00</pubDate></item><item><id>30</id><title>Petrol and Diesel engines, what's the difference?</title><description>One of the main differences between petrol and diesel engines is the fuel injection process; most cars use either port injection, which inject fuel just before the intake stroke. Diesel engines use direct fuel injection..</description><article><img src="http://autoeducation.thisisbrandnew.co.uk/news/_imagebank/GDI1.jpg" alt="Petrol and Diesel engines, what's the difference?"  />&lt;p&gt;In the 1970&amp;rsquo;s diesels were advertised as an alternative to petrol engines, however the early engines were loud and created a lot of pollution but over the past 30-40 years there has&amp;nbsp; been vast improvements in both performance and cleanliness of the diesel engine. The direct injection devices are now controlled by advanced on-board computers who monitor fuel combustion increasing the efficiency and reduction the emissions of the engine. Refined diesel fuel engines such as ultra sulfur diesel (ULSD) will lower the amount of harmful emissions and upgrading of the engines to a cleaner fuel is becoming a simpler process. Fuel efficiency is not the only improvements to be made to diesel engines other technologies such as CRT particulate filters and catalytic converters burn soot and reduce particle matter, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons which are harmful to both humans and the environment.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;One of the main differences between petrol and diesel engines is the fuel injection process; most cars use either port injection, which inject fuel just before the intake stroke (outside the cylinder) or a carburetor, which mixes air and fuel before the air hits the cylinder.&amp;nbsp; Diesel engines use direct fuel injection meaning that the diesel fuel is directly injected into the cylinder, however if all the fuel is loaded into the cylinder during an intake stroke and then compressed, the compressed fuel/air mixture limits the ratio of the engine. If it compresses the air too much, the fuel/air mixture spontaneously ignites and causes knocking, which can damage the engine.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The injector on a diesel engine is not the most complex component and can vary greatly as it has been the subject of a lot of experimentation in development; this means that engines can vary greatly depending on the make and model; in one engine there could several sites where the injector could be located, all of which can be completely different to that of another engine that has the output specifications. An injector has to be able to withstand the temperature and pressure inside the cylinder whilst delivering a fine mist of fuel.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Getting the fuel mist circulated evenly within the cylinder is also an issue so diesels have been fitted with special induction valves, pre-combustion chambers or other devices, all with the aim of swirling the fuel/air mixture around the combustion chamber to improve ignition and the combustion process within the engine itself.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;If this has ignited your interest then see our range of Bosch and Delphi diesel courses &lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://autoeducation.co.uk/courses/diesel-systems&amp;quot;&gt;http://autoeducation.co.uk/courses/diesel-systems&lt;/a&gt;, course are between 1-3 days and cost between &amp;pound;150- &amp;pound;450 (not including BCS discount).&lt;/p&gt;</article><link>http://autoeducation.thisisbrandnew.co.uk/news/article/petrol-and-diesel-engines-whats-the-difference?</link><guid isPermaLink="false">http://</guid><pubDate>2011-11-16 13:35:00</pubDate></item><item><id>29</id><title>Once Upon a Time Diesel Engines</title><description>Diesel engines werent what they are now, We have moved away from mechanical controlled systems, to electronic control EDC, common rail injector systems which incorporate accumulator rails and injectors. See our range of bosch diesel courses.</description><article><img src="http://autoeducation.thisisbrandnew.co.uk/news/_imagebank/DSCF0930.jpg" alt="Once Upon a Time Diesel Engines"  />&lt;p&gt;Once upon a time diesel engines automobiles, where inclined to be &amp;ldquo;noisy&amp;rdquo; and &amp;ldquo;sluggish&amp;rdquo;,&amp;nbsp; in complete contrast today&amp;rsquo;s&amp;nbsp; diesels use highly sophisticated engine managements systems to control emissions and provide a performance level equal to and in many cases better than some of today&amp;rsquo;s petrol powered alternatives.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;We have moved away from mechanical controlled systems, to electronic control EDC, common rail injector systems (which incorporate accumulator rails) and injectors controlled by solenoids or electronic piezo injectors and emission additive systems such as &amp;ldquo;adblue&amp;rdquo; to reduce emissions.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;With common rail and piezo injectors engine speed has been separated from pressure generation, this helps create quieter and more economical diesels.. for example at low speed common rail provides higher injection pressures resulting in better combustion processes and reducing black smoke.&amp;nbsp;The piezo injectors can divide the injection cycle into as many as five separate injection events, each specially timed to maximize combustion efficiency. This not only improves economy and lowers emissions, but it also reduces noise.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Common rail systems encompass electronic control, sensors and actuators as well as a high pressure fuel pump.&amp;nbsp;Exhaust gases leave the engine and pass through the Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC), which reduces the carbon monoxide Co and unburned hydrocarbons. Next is the NOx Absorber Catalyst, or NAC, which removes and traps oxides of nitrogen (NOx is one of the chief elements in diesel pollution). During periods of lean operation (low fuel-to-air ratio) NOx is stored; under richer operating conditions (which can be created by manipulating the fuel injection) the NAC undergoes a regeneration process and releases ammonia into the exhaust. The ammonia is stored downstream in the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) catalyst which uses it to further reduce NOx.&amp;nbsp;In between the NAC and SCR catalysts is a particulate filter that traps particulate emissions (soot). As the particulate filter becomes full, the engine management system manipulates the fuel injection process to raise the exhaust gas temperature, which in turn burns off the particulates.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;If this has ignited your interest then see our range of bosch diesel courses &lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://autoeducation.co.uk/courses/diesel-systems&amp;quot;&gt;http://autoeducation.co.uk/courses/diesel-systems&lt;/a&gt;, course are between 1-3 days and cost between &amp;pound;150- &amp;pound;450 (not inclu BCS discount)&lt;/p&gt;</article><link>http://autoeducation.thisisbrandnew.co.uk/news/article/once-upon-a-time-diesel-engines</link><guid isPermaLink="false">http://</guid><pubDate>2011-10-14 11:40:00</pubDate></item><item><id>28</id><title>European Commission F-Gas. What  it means to the Motor Industry.</title><description>European Commission on the application,efforts and adequacy of the regulations on certain F-Gas’s;The regulation of The regulatory framework for F-gas covers the key applications</description><article><img src="http://autoeducation.thisisbrandnew.co.uk/news/_imagebank/delphi_1.jpg" alt="European Commission F-Gas. What  it means to the Motor Industry."  />&lt;p&gt;F gases generated by mobile air conditioning accounts for 11% of the UK total 2005 F gas emissions. So whilst the quantity of F gas contained in a system is relatively small, usually less than 1 kilogram in each vehicle, the number of systems and their potential to leak makes them a cause for concern.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Air conditioning systems found in vehicles built after 1993 use HFC 134a as the refrigerant. The number of car air-conditioning systems has increased significantly since the late 1990s and, as the typical life of a vehicle is 12 years, most systems in existence use an HFC refrigerant. &amp;nbsp;There is to be a ban on the use of F gases in car air conditioning. This will be introduced through the EU MAC Directive 2006/40 which affects car manufacturers (for new vehicle types introduced after January 2011).&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The regulatory framework for F-gas covers the key applications in the way the gas is used and handled. The regulation entered into force on the 4&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; July 2006, with the MAC directive becoming European law on 4&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; July 2010; thus making it illegal for any person or persons not qualified or certificated to the required standard to either; work on, service or repair air conditioning systems fitted to motor vehicles and purchase refrigerant for any purpose whatsoever.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;Training and certification for individuals to handle F-gas currently apply to approximately 600,000 persons and 66,000 companies, analysis from the European Commission shows that a significant number of personnel and companies covered by the requirements were not certificated by July 2010. In the motor industry this accounts to more than 50% of all garages, who have air conditioning machines, who are still yet to be certificated. This is due to the low awareness among operators in particular operators of smaller equipment due to the deficiencies in enforcement of these provisions. However this is all about to change&amp;hellip;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Member states are required to establish national rules on penalties applicable to infringements; due to the findings of the report the EU published last month, the commission called on member states to &amp;lsquo;intensify their efforts towards rapid implementation and enforcement&amp;rsquo;. With 30% of all gases exported from the EU coming from systems such as air-conditioning units in motor vehicles and the MAC Directive being identified as making it possible to avoid almost half of projected emissions by 2050, the government is set to increase their efforts in the regulation and hydrofluorocarbon usage within the motor industry.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There are several ways of attaining your F-Gas handling license; Auto education can offer a range of training courses from onsite VRQ&amp;rsquo;s, to the 2 day Automotive Technician Qualification (ATA) there&amp;rsquo;s a course to suit all, get certificated today! Courses range from &amp;pound;195 - &amp;pound;350 per person and run all year round. &lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://autoeducation.co.uk/courses/air-conditioning&amp;quot;&gt;http://autoeducation.co.uk/courses/air-conditioning&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;</article><link>http://autoeducation.thisisbrandnew.co.uk/news/article/european-commission-f-gas-what-it-means-to-the-motor-industry</link><guid isPermaLink="false">http://</guid><pubDate>2011-10-11 10:48:00</pubDate></item><item><id>27</id><title>Lighting up with HID (High Intensity Discharge) Lamps </title><description>A High- intensity discharge or HID lamp is a type of electrical lamp which produces light by means of an electrical arc between electrodes housed inside a translucent or transparent fused quartz or fused alumina arc tube.</description><article><img src="http://autoeducation.thisisbrandnew.co.uk/news/_imagebank/HDI_Lights.jpg" alt="Lighting up with HID (High Intensity Discharge) Lamps "  />&lt;p&gt;A High- intensity discharge or HID lamp is a type of electrical lamp which produces light by means of an electrical arc between electrodes housed inside a translucent or transparent fused quartz or fused alumina arc tube. HID lamps have a higher luminous efficacy since a greater proportion of their radiation is visible as opposed to heat compared with fluorescent and incandescent lamps.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;At the beginning of the 1990&amp;rsquo;s, HID lamps started to appear in motor vehicle handlamps which improved night vision significantly, if the higher input HID lamps are well engineered, studies have shown that driver react faster and more accurately to roadway obstacles with the good HID headlamps rather than halogen ones.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The highest-intensity halogen headlamp bulbs, H9 and HIR1, produce 2100 to 2530 lumens from approximately 70 watts at 13.2 volts. A D2S HID burner produces 3200 lumens from approximately 42 watts during stable operation. The reduced power consumption means less fuel consumption, with resultant less CO2 emission per vehicle fitted with HID lighting (1.3 g/km assuming that 30% of engine running time is with the lights on).&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Due to the voltages involved in the HID lamps, there are safety risks involved when coming into contact with humans&amp;rsquo; bodies; high voltages can have an affect on the heart and respiratory system, and burns to the skin and damage to the eyes due to flashing; so safety precautions need to be put in place.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;br /&gt;The&amp;nbsp;main points are:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Don&apos;t change components with the system live&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Don&apos;t turn on the bulb when it is out of the headlight (they can sometimes explode)&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Wear safety glasses and insulated gloves&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Get trained (on the safety issues/procedures and diagnosis of the system)Use the appropriate test equipment&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Don&apos;t do voltage tests at all without the proper training!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Ensure that the headlamp leveling system works absolutely perfectly and is well adjusted&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Dispose of the old bulbs appropriately&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Use only approved replacement bulbs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;If you are interested in this and you would like to find out more about HDI&amp;rsquo;s and other similar components then why not try the Bosch VSB10 Body Control Systems, CAN &amp;amp; Multiplex Networks.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This is a 2 day Bosch Master tech course costing &amp;pound;330 + VAT. If you would like to find out more or book a place on the course then please contact Selin on 0845 600 6048 or email &lt;a href=&amp;quot;mailto:autoeducation@andrewpage.com&amp;quot;&gt;autoeducation@andrewpage.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</article><link>http://autoeducation.thisisbrandnew.co.uk/news/article/lighting-up-with-hid-high-intensity-discharge-lamps-</link><guid isPermaLink="false">http://</guid><pubDate>2011-08-03 10:00:00</pubDate></item><item><id>26</id><title>Service for Electrical and Hybrid Vehicles  Part  1- Engine Safety</title><description>What do the expressions “High-voltage” (HV), HV systems in automobiles mean? In vehicles with HV Systems. The HV networks in hybrid vehicles operate on DC up to 650 V and have to provide high electrical energy.
</description><article><img src="http://autoeducation.thisisbrandnew.co.uk/news/_imagebank/engine_safety.jpg" alt="Service for Electrical and Hybrid Vehicles  Part  1- Engine Safety"  />&lt;h2&gt;What do the expressions &amp;ldquo;High-voltage&amp;rdquo; (HV), HV systems in automobiles mean?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In vehicles with HV Systems, components are installed which operate on voltages above 60 V DC or 25 V AC. The components in these vehicles require partly higher electrical power ratings.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The HV networks in hybrid vehicles operate on DC up to 650 V and have to provide high electrical energy.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;What could be the consequences to people when handling HV Systems?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;On coming in contact with voltage carrying HV components, currents can flow through human bodies, which make them extremely dangerous.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The hearts impulse rhythm can be affected by the strong electrical charge from the HV when coming into contact with a human body, the damage of which is dependant upon the duration of current flow. The longer the body comes into contact with a high current the more long term damage is caused; the high electrical currents have also been know to cause severe burns as well as ventricular fibrillations.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;There is also a danger of the electrical arc formation when working on the vehicle that has short circuited between the two poles within the HV system. An electric arc is an electrical breakdown of a gas which produces an ongoing plasma discharge, resulting from a current flowing through a normally nonconductive media such as air. This can inflict serious damage to the eyes and external burns to the body.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Working on the new HV can be very dangerous and it is important that all safety aspects are taken into consideration before servicing the vehicles.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;If you would like to find out more about Hybrid vehicles and how to work safely on them, then we have the course for you- VSH24 Bosch Hybrid Electric Vehicles; Level 2 QCF &amp;pound;350 + VAT available regionally.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;If you are interested in booking a place or have any further enquires then please call 0845 600 6048 or email &lt;/em&gt;&lt;a href=&amp;quot;mailto:info@autoeducation.co.uk&amp;quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;autoeducation@andrewpage.com&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</article><link>http://autoeducation.thisisbrandnew.co.uk/news/article/service-for-electrical-and-hybrid-vehicles-part-1-engine-safety</link><guid isPermaLink="false">http://</guid><pubDate>2011-07-12 14:23:00</pubDate></item><item><id>25</id><title>Bosch Hybrid Course NOW AVAILABLE REGIONALLY</title><description>The course content;components & operations of a hybrid vehicle,how to work safely on hybrid systems & the maintenance & repair when working on them,all critical things when working with this new breed of car engine.This course is available regionally.</description><article><img src="http://autoeducation.thisisbrandnew.co.uk/news/_imagebank/car.jpg" alt="Bosch Hybrid Course NOW AVAILABLE REGIONALLY"  />&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Auto education is happy to announce that we can now offer the VSH24 Bosch Hybrid Electric Vehicle Operation and Maintenance regionally. &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;With the 10&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; anniversary of the first hybrid cars on the road, independent garages are increasingly seeing the new hybrid technology becoming common place in the independent garage. With the new hybrid technology however comes new ways of working with the new breed of motor vehicle. &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Here are some top Hybrid tips- &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;1. When working on a hybrid or looking under the hood, high-voltage cables should be labeled orange or blue. Do not touch these cables unless the electrical safety switch has been triggered. The safety switch location varies from model to model; consult the owner&apos;s manual.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;2. Many hybrid vehicles have a &amp;quot;Power&amp;quot; button in addition to a key start ignition. Before working on a particular hybrid vehicle, be sure that both the power switch and ignition are in the &amp;quot;Off&amp;quot; position. Also, allow the vehicle to cool down for approximately 15 minutes while the voltage capacitors release their stored energy.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Hybrids are a big technological step with increased safety requirements when compared to normal cars!&lt;strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;One of the many benefits of this course however is that it is an IMI accredited stand alone or &amp;lsquo;single unit&amp;rsquo; qualification and there is no prerequisite apart from 2 years experience in the workshop. Upon successful competition of the course they will hold a Level 2 qualification (or higher) in automotive service and repair. &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The course content is as follows; &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&amp;middot;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Components and operations of a hybrid vehicle, &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&amp;middot;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;How to work safely on hybrid systems &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&amp;middot;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Hybrid maintenance and repair &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;All critical things when working with this new breed of car engine&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Please check out our view all courses page to see if there is a Hybrid course on near you! However i&lt;strong&gt;f you would like to register an interest for the hybrid course or to get a course over view, hot of the Bosch Press then you can do it here at Auto Education, all you need to do is just type the course code VSH24 into the course search or email&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&amp;quot;mailto:autoeducation@andrewpage.com&amp;quot;&gt;autoeducation@andrewpage.com&lt;/a&gt; &amp;nbsp;and call us on 0845 600 6048. &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</article><link>http://autoeducation.thisisbrandnew.co.uk/news/article/bosch-hybrid-course-now-available-regionally</link><guid isPermaLink="false">http://</guid><pubDate>2011-06-10 15:22:00</pubDate></item><item><id>23</id><title>IMI Professional Register to offer better choice and better deals for UK motorists</title><description>In line with the Government's drive to improve customer service through professional standards, the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has developed a Professional Register</description><article><img src="http://autoeducation.thisisbrandnew.co.uk/news/_imagebank/prof_reg.jpg" alt="IMI Professional Register to offer better choice and better deals for UK motorists"  />&lt;p&gt;The IMI Professional Register includes individuals in the automotive industry who have proven they have the right qualifications and knowledge to practice professionally within the automotive sector, abide by a code of ethical conduct and who continually maintain their professional standards by committing to continuing professional development (CPD) and proving current competence.&amp;nbsp; Members of the IMI, of which there are more than 16,500, are ideally positioned to become professionally registered and are the first to be invited to join.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Professional Registration is about continuous investment in skills. Accreditation demonstrates that an individual is good now, but they must stay good. That is why the Professional Register requires individuals to commit to maintaining their skill levels through continuing professional development (CPD).&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Sarah Sillars, Executive Chair of the IMI said: &lt;br /&gt;&amp;quot;This is an exciting time for the IMI, our members, the motor industry and the consumer as we take the final step towards establishing real consumer confidence in our industry. Through the IMI Professional Register, our members will be able to demonstrate their commitment to maintaining their skills and consumers will be able to make informed choices about the best place to buy, repair or service their vehicle. I look forward to working with the Industry and Government over the next three years to make this vision a reality for consumers.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Adding your name to the Professional Register announces to your colleagues, customers and employer that you are serious about your career. It tells them you mean business and speaks volumes about your success. To find out how to broadcast your success visit &lt;a title=&amp;quot;http://www.motor.org.uk/register&amp;quot; href=&amp;quot;http://www.motor.org.uk/register&amp;quot;&gt;www.motor.org.uk/register&lt;/a&gt; &amp;nbsp;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Maintaining our skills through CPD clearly demonstrates that you are equipped to respond to the rapidly changing industry. The IMI have therefore been working hard with selected partners to produce an exclusive portfolio of CPD training and eLearning to support automotive professionals. We now have an exciting catalogue of training opportunities&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&amp;quot;text-decoration: underline;&amp;quot;&gt;&lt;a title=&amp;quot;http://www.autocity.org.uk/course-listing&amp;quot; href=&amp;quot;http://www.autocity.org.uk/course-listing&amp;quot;&gt;&lt;strong title=&amp;quot;http://www.autocity.org.uk/course-listing&amp;quot;&gt;Don&apos;t miss out on courses in June and July&amp;raquo;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</article><link>http://autoeducation.thisisbrandnew.co.uk/news/article/imi-professional-register-to-offer-better-choice-and-better-deals-for-uk-motorists</link><guid isPermaLink="false">http://</guid><pubDate>2011-05-31 11:48:00</pubDate></item><item><id>11</id><title>Grow Your own Apprentices with DELPHI</title><description>Grow Your own Apprentices
Invest in an apprentice and the future of your business.
</description><article><img src="http://autoeducation.thisisbrandnew.co.uk/news/_imagebank/delphi_training.jpg" alt="Grow Your own Apprentices with DELPHI"  />&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Avoid skills shortages&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The&amp;nbsp;Delphi&amp;nbsp;Apprentice Programme allows you to invest in your businesses future, by investing in an apprentice you can acquire specialist skills for your business that allow you to keep abreast of new technology.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Relevant training&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Apprentice Programme is designed specifically to meet the needs of the independent aftermarket.&amp;nbsp; This means the training is always relevant and is delivered by the industry for the industry.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Qualifications&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Apprentices throughout their course of study will be working towards achieving an NVQ level 2 Advanced Apprenticeship qualification. On successful completion of this they will proceed onto Level 3. The very nature of a &lt;em&gt;vocational &lt;/em&gt;qualification is such that evidence of skills competence is generated and demonstrated in the workplace. Our dedicated assessment team will visit apprentices in their own place of work on a regular basis to assess competence and provide assistance and guidance throughout the period of study.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;All apprentices completing an Advanced Apprenticeship (Level 3) will automatically sit the coveted IMI ATA Service Maintence and refrigerant handler assessments (Certification cost will be charged as an extra). Successful candidates will then receive this accolade thus demonstrating their individual competencies to the consumer and their employer.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Training Duration&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Level 2&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Year One&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; 8 weeks&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Four 2 week blocks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Year Two&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; 4 weeks&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Four 1 week blocks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;= 12 Weeks &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Level 3&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Year Two&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; 2 weeks&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Two 1 week blocks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Year Three&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; 4 weeks&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Four 1 week blocks &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;= 6 weeks&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;18 weeks in total over three years&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Improved productivity and profits&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Andrew Page Apprentice Programme equips young people with the skills and knowledge to do the job better and because they are motivated they work harder and more effectively for your business.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Andrew Page Apprentice Programme will attract and develop people who are keen to learn and work hard. It will also provide a solid platform for future learning and progression within your business.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your commitment as an Employer&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Provide employment and a safe working environment conductive to personal development.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Provide work based mentorship and experience.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Allow time away from work to complete the training blocks required&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Attend and participate in a regular (12 weekly) review meeting to monitor learner progress&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Provide financial support for learner travel and accommodation during training blocks (the actual training cost will be funded through a government contract held by Delphi, if the apprentice is within the funded age range)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Provide feedback and support to the training and assessment team to continually improve the training delivered and the overall programme&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Andrew Pages and Delphi&amp;rsquo;s Commitment&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Provide a quick and professional recruitment and candidate selection test service&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Provide relevant training using highly experienced and accredited trainers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Produce a specific training plan and support matrix for each learner&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Our field based assessors will visit every 12 weeks to support and monitor the apprentice during their training and keep management informed of their progress&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;To provide additional learning support for those students that require it.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Produce regular learner reports detailing progress towards qualification and action plans&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Manage all training administration&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Management of the funding and accreditation requirements&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;If you are interested in taking on an apprentice or being an apprentice please contact 01743 762054.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</article><link>http://autoeducation.thisisbrandnew.co.uk/news/article/grow-your-own-apprentices-with-delphi</link><guid isPermaLink="false">http://</guid><pubDate>2010-10-12 09:36:00</pubDate></item><item><id>10</id><title>NEW- Bosch Hybrid Course- GET THE LATEST INFO HERE! </title><description>NEW- Bosch Hybrid Cours- GET THE LATEST INFO HERE! </description><article><img src="http://autoeducation.thisisbrandnew.co.uk/news/_imagebank/car.jpg" alt="NEW- Bosch Hybrid Course- GET THE LATEST INFO HERE! "  />&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&amp;quot;text-decoration: underline;&amp;quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;IMI Awards Qualification (QCF) for Hybrid Electric Vehicles&lt;br /&gt;VSH24- Hybrid Electric Vehicle Operation and Maintenance &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Hybrid vehicles are now 10 years old and are now appearing at local garages in increasing numbers&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The hybrid car has three main components &amp;ndash; the fuel engine, an electric motor and a battery. The fuel engine of hybrid cars is similar to that in the conventional cars. Most of the hybrid cars in the market use petrol as the main fuel, PSA Peugeot Citroen are working on new diesel-electric hybrid models. The electric motors in the hybrid cars are unique as they perform the function of a motor as well as a generator. The battery provides the electric supply to the motor, and the important feature of it is that it can be recharged by the power of the fuel engine. Because of this recapturing strategy, hybrid cars do not require to be plugged in. All safety precautions, standards, and regulations that apply to petrol engine vehicles also apply to hybrid vehicles; however, hybrid vehicles have added risks because of their advanced electrical systems.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;When working on a hybrid or looking under the hood, high-voltage cables should be labelled orange or blue. Do not touch these cables unless the electrical safety switch has been triggered. The safety switch location varies from model to model; consult the owner&apos;s manual.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Many hybrid vehicles have a &amp;quot;Power&amp;quot; button in addition to a key start ignition. Before working on a particular hybrid vehicle, be sure that both the power switch and ignition are in the &amp;quot;Off&amp;quot; position. Also, allow the vehicle to cool down for approximately 15 minutes while the voltage capacitors release their stored energy.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Hybrids are a big technological step with increased safety requirements when compared to normal cars!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;With the ever increasing popularity of the Hybrid Vehicles, technicians are coming into contact with them more and more during servicing and repairs; however the safety features of these new vehicles are very different to the traditional automotive car. Knowing this Bosch have put together a course with their usual technical expertise and meticulous eye for detail.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;One of the many benefits of this course however is that it is an IMI accredited stand alone or &amp;lsquo;single unit&amp;rsquo; qualification and there is no prerequisite apart from 2 years experience in the workshop. Upon successful competition of the course they will hold a Level 2 qualification (or higher) in automotive service and repair. &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The course content is as follows; components and operations of a hybrid vehicle, how to work safely on hybrid systems and the maintenance and repair when working on them, all critical things when working with this new breed of car engine. &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;This course is not on general release as yet; it is due to be on general release in the next few months. However if you would like to register an interest for this Brand new course or to get a course over view, hot of the Bosch Press then you can do it here at Auto Education, all you need to do is just email&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&amp;quot;mailto:autoeducation@andrewpage.com&amp;quot;&gt;autoeducation@andrewpage.com&lt;/a&gt; &amp;nbsp;or call us on 0845 600 6048. &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&amp;quot;text-decoration: underline;&amp;quot;&gt;VSH24- Hybrid Electric Vehicle Operation and Maintenance&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&amp;quot;text-decoration: underline;&amp;quot;&gt;Course Dates&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;26th- 27th January 2011, Bosch HQ Dehham &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;7th- 8th April 2011, Bosch HQ Denham&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;23rd- 24th June 2011, Bosch HQ Denham&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;28th- 29th September 2011, Bosch HQ Denham&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;</article><link>http://autoeducation.thisisbrandnew.co.uk/news/article/new-bosch-hybrid-course-get-the-latest-info-here-</link><guid isPermaLink="false">http://</guid><pubDate>2010-10-01 16:27:00</pubDate></item></channel></rss>
