2017 AltCar Expo Will Point Toward an International Vision of Sustainable Practices
The tide appears to be turning for alternative fueled vehicles. On July
26, 2017, the United Kingdom announced it was to ban the sale of all
diesel and gas-fueled cars and vans by 2040 to combat rising levels of
nitrogen oxide pollution. The decision follows the lead of other
countries like France, which issued the promise on July 6. The automaker
Volvo announced it would end manufacture of gas-only cars by 2019, and
customers are buying Tesla vehicles not so much for environmental purposes, but
for their "wow" factor.
The world is moving toward vehicles that tread a lighter carbon
footprint, and the fleet profession is taking notice. NAFA Fleet
Management Association has pioneered sustainable fleet practices for
decades and cemented its commitment with the formation of the
Sustainable Fleet Accreditation Program in 2014 and the launch of
Sustainable Fleet Series in 2016.
The Sustainable Fleet Series is a brand new seminar that has been
developed through a partnership between NAFA Fleet Management
Association, CALSTART, and NC State University. It consists of six
one-hour presentations designed to educate fleet professionals on how to
create a sustainable fleet program.
On September 15, NAFA will be presenting the introductory session to the
Sustainable Fleet Series "Building the Foundation for a Sustainable
Fleet," live at the 2017 AltCar Expo and Conference, September 15-16 in
Santa Monica, Calif. Facilitated by NAFA Accreditation Development
Committee Chair Gary Lentsch, CAFM®, will help to set the
stage for this program and define what sustainability means in the
context of the Fleet industry. Attendees will learn how to write a
Sustainable Fleet Plan, how to develop policies and procedures, and will
be given examples of sustainable fleet initiatives.
This inclusion of NAFA education makes an already strong event into a
"can't miss" powerhouse. Rick Sikes, Chief Operating Officer for
pro-alt-fuel organization CarbonBLU and a liaison of the 2017 AltCar
Expo and Conference has been a part of the event since its inception in
2005. He sees alternative fuel vehicles reaching its moment of no
turning back.
"The reason that AltCar was started was to show people that there are
alternatives (to fossil fuels) out there. You can imagine that, back
then, the pickings were slim. The idea for AltCar was to educate people
on options for reducing their transportation carbon footprint, and to
bring those products together in one place so that people could touch,
feel, and test drive those vehicles and, ultimately, buy them."
Fleet Adoption is Varied
Spread over two days, the AltCar Expo concentrates the majority of its
fleet and industry sessions on the first day, September 15. The focus
shifts to the public on September 16. The Expo floor and an alt fuel
ride and drive occur on both days of the conference.
"On the fleet side, it's a convenient place to have all the different
products. We usually have every fully-electric vehicle, every natural
gas vehicle that has California Air Resources Board (CARB)
certification, et cetera. It's a good selection with everything in one
place where individuals can actually test drive the vehicles, and take
the next step to buy them."
Sikes said, among the many choices of vehicles ready to drive at the
conference, the new Honda Clarity fuel cell and electric model will be
available to experience during the ride and drive.
Companies and organizations continue to take great strides toward
sustainable practices, even as the federal government indicates a desire
to move in the opposite direction.
"In California, there is a renewed commitment," Sikes said, noting
Governor Jerry Brown's legislation to extend the Carbon Market funding
mechanism into 2030. "Fleets, especially government fleets, aren't
changing their sustainability paths. In fact, California is mandating
that in the next fiscal year, state fleet vehicles and government agency
vehicles will be zero-emission vehicles if they are available. They're
tightening up those rules to that they won't have an option (to avoid
the change). Nationwide, some government fleets have already moved
toward electrification and natural gas, and are on a path and committed
to these changes.
"You have some other fleets that have not taken the step yet. Those are
the ones that AltCar are most interested in bringing in; to show them
that other people have done it successfully, connect them with fleet
managers and sustainability experts who can answer their questions
concerning facilitation. Then they can follow the examples in
implementing alt-fuel cars in their own fleets with greater accuracy and
fewer issues."
For the public consumer, Sikes said that alt-fuel cars, and particularly
electric vehicles, are taking on a "cool" factor that is superseding
concerns with miles-per-gallon. Even in an era of cheaper gas, EVs are
making advances in the public consciousness not as an option that's good
for you, but as one that truly appeals to consumers.
Sikes said, however, that on the federal level, the wind has shifted in
the opposite direction. "But the good news is that a lot of these action
plans have already been put into motion. Even if there is resistance
from the federal side, in terms of funding and support, believers in
these technologies are doubling-down their support. Instead of being
pushed by government mandate toward sustainable paths, fleets are
carrying the ball themselves."
For more information, and to register to attend, visit www.altcarexposocal.com
NAFA Fleet Management Association
http://www.nafa.org/