Car owners can't get enough of alternative-fuel systems so city govt offers free mechanic training

To meet huge demand from car owners for alternative-fuel systems, the city and Skills Development Department is offering free training in safe installation for mechanics.

More than 100 mechanics employed by garages and shops installing natural and liquid-petroleum gas fuel systems have been trained so far.

The training centre at Wat That Thong near Soi Ekkamai on Sukhumvit Road aims to train 5,000 mechanics by the end of next year. Trainers are experienced system installers from the skills department.

Training-centre director Thianrat Nawamawat says the course takes four, six-hour days. Each class costs about Bt30,000.

Licence to open garages

Trainer Anuchit Klabprasit says trainees must be garage owners or mechanics with a minimum of two years experience in general repair works.

Trainees receive certificates that can be automatically used in seeking licences to open garages specialising in installation of both alternative-fuel systems.

Preecha Sriphol, a garage owner from Rayong, says he and three employees attended the course so they could assist his 12 other mechanics cope with the demand for alternative-fuel system installation.

Demand for installation has increased three-fold from two years ago and he puts this down to the ever-increasing cost of petrol.

He says most car owners in Rayong prefer natural gas because more service stations offer it. Rayong is near the PTT distribution facility and pipeline networks.

Another garage owner and mechanic for five years, Kobsak Muangnoijaroen, of Phra Pradaeng in Bangkok's Thon Buri, says he needs to learn about new safety precautions for the gas systems.

He recently expanded his business to include alternative-fuel system installation because of the demand.