News

Car show to provide a glimpse into the future of automotives

The gasoline consumers use to fuel their cars will eventually run out.

Fossil fuels, which are used to create gasoline, are a non-renewable resource, which means there is not an infinite supply of it.

According to clientearth.org, human usage of fossil fuels contributes to global warming by releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

With the goal of combating these problems, vehicle manufacturers have created electric powered cars, and they continue to advance the industry with innovations.

MCCC is hosting an electric vehicle show on Saturday, Oct. 23 from 9am -12pm. The show is free and open to the public.

The Toyota RAV will be on display at the car show. (Photo from Wikimedia Library).

According to the news release, the show is sponsored by Consumers Energy and MCCC’s Automotive Engineering and Automotive Service programs. 

Peter Coomar, dean of applied sciences and engineering technology, said the aim of the event is to inform the public about both the present and future of electric vehicle technology.

“It affects us all as this is tied to economics and environment both, not to speak of decline in supply of fossil fuel which will soon pose a challenge with transportation globally,” Coomar said. 

Major events at the show will include electric vehicle demonstrations, seminars and the opportunity to test drive a Tesla, Coomar said. 

The planning process for the car show began in August, Coomar said. The plans were solidified when the MCCC advisory committee suggested including electric vehicle education in MCCC’s automotive programs.

“To train the next generation of technicians we need to educate our students on EV technology,” Coomar said. “What better way can there be than to bring some of the leading manufacturers that are in the area to display and demonstrate the technology?”

Along with supplementing the automotive programs and hosting the car show, MCCC will be offering an electric vehicle class during the Winter Semester, Coomar said. 

In the past, MCCC has hosted a car show where community members could show off their own cars. 

This show will be different. Because of time constraints, only dealerships, equipment manufacturers and MCCC professors may participate in showing vehicles, Coomar said. 

The Ford Mustang Mach-E GT is one of the electric vehicles that will be shown at the car show. (Photo from Wikimedia Library).

Friendly Ford, Lake Erie Transit, Allen Chevrolet, Monroe Dodge, Wolverine Toyota, Roush Industries and Tesla Inc. are just some of the companies that will be displaying vehicles, according to the news release. 

Most of the events will take place outside, Coomar said. Masks are not required but are recommended for outside activities. However, masks will be required in the Career Technology Center, where the seminars will be held. 

Coomar encourages the community to come and “educate themselves on what is coming up in the mobility area for the future and make informed decisions about purchase of vehicles for them personally.”