AltWheels Fleet Day is the largest meeting of corporate and municipal Fleet Managers on the East Coast. On September 19, gasworld attended the 11th annual Fleet Day event in Norwood, Massachusetts, to learn about the latest in fleet transportation technologies, alternative fuels, fleet management practices, and in particular, the how CNG and hydrogen are stacking up in the pantheon of alternatives to gas and diesel.
This year’s Keynote Speaker was Margo Oge, who is widely recognized as a key architect of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) efforts to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Oge opened with some positive remarks, noting that since EPA regulations were introduced in 1980, aggregate pollution has been reduced by 70% and GDP has grown by 133%, dispelling the myth that environmental protection and economic growth do not go hand in hand. That being said, with transportation currently contributing one-third of greenhouse gas emissions, Oge reminded us there is a lot of work to be done.
She discussed the three factors shaping the future of mobility going forward: converging emissions standards worldwide; urbanization and the growth of mega-cities; and, connected living and working. Each of these will profoundly impact transportation decisions, which are already in the midst of revolutionary change with ride-sharing platforms and autonomous vehicles being the two big game changers. According to Oge, in the 1990s, 87% of 19 year-olds in America had a driver’s license. Today, only 70% do. That’s a pretty stunning statistic for a country where the car is king. Ride sharing, biking, and the move to urban areas where there is mass transit all contribute to that trend.
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