Our in-person events in 2025 showcased some of the latest vehicles and fostered the creation of a community of fleet managers and solutions providers.
The numbers are in:
- Almost 250 registrants representing 85 communities and organizations
- 27 zero-emission vehicles
- 38 presentations and 16 round table discussions
- 600 cups of coffee and 400 sandwiches
- 4 regions
- Countless conversations
“Wherever we went, there was a real curiosity about the latest vehicles and a genuine interest in learning from peers about early experiences people have had with incorporating electric and other zero-emission technologies into fleets. It was great to have a large group of college and high school students join the session Kamloops and we were blown away by attendees who travelled nearly 800 km to attend the session in Prince George.”
—Danielle Wiess, Director of Transportation Initiatives
What we heard
The series of events stimulated meaningful conversation and discussion providing the opportunity to hear what attendees felt were the most important factors surrounding planning and implementation, read on for a summary of the main findings.
- Range, usage hours, charging time, climate and cost are all decision-making factors. Spending time on analyzing and understanding all of the above is critical and investments only be made following rigorous due diligence.
- With proper planning, integration of zero-emission vehicles isn’t difficult and can provide immediate benefits including cost savings.
- Local governments are interested in moving forward with this work and are keen to support each other, share experiences and learn together on the journey to adopting more zero-emission fleet vehicles.
- Understanding the total cost of ownership is a critical step in justifying investment in these vehicles.
- Funding and incentives have been extremely helpful.
- There is interest in working with utilities to figure out solutions to some of the challenges that are being face.
- One size doesn’t fit all. What works in one location may not be suitable in another location, climate zone or application. There are options for most requirements but research and planning is an essential step and taking shortcuts can result in poor decision making.
Attendee Insights
"Why did you attend Fleet Forward and what are you interested in learning more about?"
Kaitlyn Erskine
City of Victoria
Ryan Hayes
City of Vancouver
Dave Aharonian
BC Climate Action Secretariat
Blake Veerman
BC Hydro
Dominic Staniewski
District of Saanich
Manuel Ekpini
BC Trucking Association
Ken Robbins
Town of Sidney
Nathan Zemp
BC Hydro
Kim Thiessen
Canoe Procurement
Adam Crowston
Rizon Trucks Canada
What’s next for Fleet Forward
Our transportation team is continuing to work through the findings from the event series and is following up on discussions to create tools that will help fleet managers to plan and work towards selecting the correct vehicles for their specific needs.
Stay up to date
Bookmark this page. It is a hub that will continue to grow and be populated by assets that will help you.
Sign up to our Fleet Forward email newsletter to ensure you get the latest information as soon as it is published.
Follow CEA on Linkedin and keep an eye out for our transportation updates.
Reach out to us and let us know what information you need to help you make decisions in your own role.
Use Cases
Hear from people in organizations that have introduced zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles into their fleets.
UEL's Mack Electric Refuse Truck
Maple Ridge's Electric Freightliners
Technology Spotlight
There are many ways to transition to lower- and zero-emission vehicles and with emerging technologies to replace or convert existing assets it's important to learn about the options.
BlueForce Energy EV conversion solution
HTEC heavy duty hydrogen electric solution
Resources for Fleet Decarbonization
Fleet Forward Resource Guide
CEA has compiled resources to help transition your fleet vehicles to zero-emissions. Download this guide for a listing of key tools you need to understand your fleet and the opportunities from electrification. We also provide links to over a dozen studies, reports and initiatives that will deepen your knowledge of the sector. And a catalogue of stakeholders and industry groups that can support you on your journey. You will also find funding opportunities along with application details and deadlines.
Electric Mobility Canada: Economic Outlook of the Canadian EV Industry
This study projects GDP growth and employment related to electric mobility over the next decades.
First of its kind catalogue listing the MHD ZEV models and incentives available across the country.
Natural Resources Canada: Green Fleet Best Practices Guide
Gives fleet managers practical strategies to support a successful shift to zero-emission fleet vehicles.
Incentives for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Zero-Emission Vehicles
The federal government provides incentives of up to $200,000 for purchase or lease.
Resources from Showcase Events
Browse slide decks and other resources shared by manufacturers, utilities, trades educators, and other service providers at Fleet Forward showcase events.
| Presentation | Presenter | Description |
|---|---|---|
| BC - Local Government Climate Action Program.pdf | An overview of the LGCAP program from the Provincial Government. | |
| BCIT - ZEV Maintenance Program.pdf | Richard Haire | Discover how BCIT developed a groundbreaking EV mechanics course for light, medium, and heavy duty Evs alike. |
| BlueForce - Electrification Technologies.pdf | Vandad Saniee | An overview of Blue Force Energy, a Burnaby based company specialising in EV conversion kits for a range of commercial vehicles. |
| Canoe - ZEV Procurement.pdf | Kim Thiessien | Canoe is a co-operative buying group that assist municipalities across Canada with procuring a variety of services and equipment. |
| CIMA+ - Fleet Electrification.pdf | Anaissa Franca | Hear from CIMA+ and their approach to transportation electrification, from strategy, to design, and construction. |
| Emterra - Decarbonizing Waste Industry.pdf | Zackery Chen | Learn how Emterra uses electric refuse vehicles to revolutionize their operations on Vancouver Island. |
| FP Innovations - Tolko Veneer Haul Electrification.pdf | Mithun Shetty | A detailed comparison between the electric Class 8 models compatible with the forestry sector in BC, and their impact on operations. |
| Fuse Power Management - Vehicle to Grid.pdf | Bryan Taylor | Fuse Power discuss their case study developing vehicle-to-grid technology using an electric school bus, in collaboration with Lynch Bus Lines. |
| HTEC - Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles.pdf | Tracy DeChaux | Learn about HTEC and their pilot projects developing hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and fuelling infrastructure in BC. |
| Hydra - Hydrogen Diesel Co-Combustion.pdf | Jo Borck | Hydra turns hydrogen ambition into action with its Hydrogen-as-aService model, helping fleets meet sustainability goals while supporting suppliers in scaling production. |
| Maple Ridge - MT50E Van.pdf | Ashley Canavan | The City of Maple Ridge present their key learnings following the acqusition of a Freightliner MT50e into their fleet. |
| Moving Mountain Logistics - ZEV Last Mile Delivery.pdf | Jay Jain | Learn how a Kamloops based business leads the way in regional courier deliveries thanks to its state of the art MHD ZEV fleet. |
| NACFE - Run on Less Messy Middle.pdf | Ken North | Hear the outcomes from NACFE's Messy Middle event, designed to test decarbonized Class 8 vehicles' on road capabilities across North America. |
| PlugIn BC - Programs 2025.pdf | Bala Venkata | Plug In BC is a program of the Fraser Basin Council and works in collaboration with government, industry, academic institutions, EV owners, NGOs and utilities to advance the uptake of electric vehicles in British Columbia. |
| PowerON - EV Charging.pdf | Warren Boyle | PowerON work with diverse clients to assess, plan, and upgrade electrical capacity to enhance EV charging infrastructure. |
| Prince George - ZEV Fleet.pdf | Janine Stibrany | An overview of the diverse Evs in the City of Prince George fleet, and their unique use cases in Northern BC. |
| Richmond - Ice Resurfacer.pdf | Jennifer Kube-Njenga | A case study detailing Richmond's EV ice resurfacer adoption and its role in their wider Gren Fleet Action Plan. |
| Thompson Rivers University - Automotive Service Technician Program.pdf | Matthew Hyrnyk | Learn about TRU's Automotive Service Technician program, including the newly introduced Electric Vehicle Technology and Service course. |
| Tidewater - Renewable Diesel.pdf | Matthew Millard | Tidewater's renewable fuels paves the way for a cleaner trucking industry in Northern BC. |
| Vancouver - Green Fleet Strategy.pdf | Evan Dacey | Learn how the City of Vancouver adopted its ambitious Green Fleet Strategy and the impact it had on transportation emissions reduction. |
| Vernon - Ice Resurfacer Conversion.pdf | Dustin Pridham | The City of Vernon discuss their electric ice resurfacer and the benefits it brings to the community. |
| Victoria - ZEV Fleet.pdf | Simon Upshon | The City of Victoria provides a detailed look into its fleet electrification progress to date, culminating in almost 100 EVs in the City fleet. |
Thank you, partners
Fleet Forward programming is made possible with funding and support from:
