INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE (ICE) MECHANICS’ INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE (EV) REPAIR: A NATIONAL FRANCHISE TRAINING MODEL FOR DIVERSIFYING THE EXPERTISE OF TODAY’S AUTO TECHNICIAN THIS PROJECT WILL DEVELOP AND CONDUCT A PILOT LAUNCH OF A NATIONWIDE NETWORK OF PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION (IHES) AND CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS (CTES) THAT WILL PROVIDE A SUSTAINABLE, STANDARDIZED, HYBRID ONLINE/IN-PERSON TRAINING. THE TRAINING WILL FOCUS ON EV MAINTENANCE FOR THE CURRENT AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN WORKFORCE THAT WORK OUTSIDE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER (OEM) DEALERSHIP NETWORKS AND/OR THOSE WORKERS SEEKING TO TRANSITION FROM LEGACY ENERGY AND TRANSPORTATION JOBS TO NEW GREEN ENERGY JOBS.