According to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation, more than 2 million hybrid cars are on the road. As gas prices rise, they're becoming more and more popular. Chattahoochee Technical College is trying to meet a growing demand by training it's students to be a step ahead.
Sally Bigarel traded in her SUV for a hybrid. She's like thousands of others across the nation, hoping for better fuel economy.
"Even with my short stop and starts, I'm getting almost 34 miles to the gallon," said Bigarel.
Her vehicle is under warranty now, but there will be a time when she'll need someone to fix it. Hybrids get great gas mileage, but it takes a specific set of skills to fix them.
Andy Lindman is hoping his students will be ready to service Bigarel's car when the time comes. He teaches automotive maintenance at Chattahoochee Tech. He used to be a service manager at a dealership and he says mechanics with an expertise in hybrids are rare.
"It was like pulling teeth trying to find someone who actually had some of that base knowledge," said Lindman.
Jonathan Hoffman knows a lot about cars, but says he's here to learn more about hybrids.
"With a hybrid car you have an electric motor and a regular motor. So you have two different motors running. You have a huge electrical system with a battery pack. That sometimes can be underneath the car, or in the back or under the seats or something like that you really don't want to touch or mess with," said Hoffman.
It's the electrical system that's the most dangerous, which is why Lindman teaches safety in addition to technical skills.
"We want them to be able to safely work on lots of the items on the vehicle, for example the electric power steering, electric AC compressor, and do these things without shocking themselves with 650 volts," said Lindman.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 10:37 AM EDT2013-05-22 14:37:15 GMT
You've seen us handing out Good Day Gas Money for weeks now, and Gurvir and Karen have met plenty of those lucky winners in person.
You've seen us handing out Good Day Gas Money for weeks now, and Gurvir and Karen have met plenty of those lucky winners in person. But Paul turned up the heat when he enlisted the help of two actresses from the new movie Operation Heat to play a little prank on his unsuspecting coworkers.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 10:30 AM EDT2013-05-22 14:30:53 GMT
Does your summer road trip include mouth-watering stops at mom-and-pop eateries? Ours does, and it'll be even better with the help of a new Southern Living book!
Off the Eaten Path: Second Helpings is dedicated to finding the best meals in the south-- and it features some great restaurants right here in north Georgia. Good Day's Paul Milliken checked out two of those gems-- The Hil in Serenbe, and Weaver D's in Athens! As usual, he didn't leave hungry.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 10:17 AM EDT2013-05-22 14:17:14 GMT
The new season of Masterchef features a local contestant from the metro area! Jessie Lysiak is from Social Circle, and she's about to make her big debut on the hit FOX show.
The new season of Masterchef features a local contestant from the metro area! Jessie Lysiak is from Social Circle, and she's about to make her big debut on the hit FOX show. But first, she stopped by Good Day to cook us up one of her favorite recipes.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 9:56 AM EDT2013-05-22 13:56:24 GMT
Americans are known for their pearly whites, but we pay for it—and it isn't cheap.
Americans are known for their pearly whites, but we pay for it—and it isn't cheap. If you have more than one child who needs braces, you have quite an expense on your hands—but FOX 5 I-Team reporter Dana Fowle found some ways to make it a little more manageable.
This week's Good Day Casting Call is loaded with opportunities! Whether you're a jock, a hipster, or a funky-looking worker (WHAT?), there's a job on the big screen for you!
This week's Good Day Casting Call is loaded with opportunities! Whether you're a jock, a hipster, or a funky-looking worker (WHAT?), there's a job on the big screen for you!
Our own Katie Beasley is about to get hitched! She's finally finished planning her big day, and she did lots of it herself. She let us in on her DIY secrets on Good Day!
Our own Katie Beasley is about to get hitched! She's finally finished planning her big day, and she did lots of it herself. She let us in on her DIY secrets on Good Day!
Wednesday, May 22 2013 9:29 AM EDT2013-05-22 13:29:22 GMT
Summer is almost here, and that means lots of people will be hitting the roads on vacation. But before you go, don't forget to give your car a little TLC to get it ready for the highway.
Summer is almost here, and that means lots of people will be hitting the roads on vacation. But before you go, don't forget to give your car a little TLC to get it ready for the highway.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 8:51 AM EDT2013-05-22 12:51:47 GMT
Chances are your child or someone in your child's class has at least one food allergy.
Chances are your child or someone in your child's class has at least one food allergy. A study by the CDC released last week shows that one in every 20 kids is dealing with food allergies. It's a challenge, but doctors say it's important that kids get diagnosed and treated.
