View photos from 2014 Green Fleet Conference & Expo

The 2014 Green Fleet Conference & Expo was held October 28-29 in Schaumburg, Ill., and attracted more than 500 fleet managers and fleet stakeholders who gained a comprehensive understanding of the business case for today’s alternative-fuel market, along with how to effectively manage a green fleet. Attendees also had the opportunity to climb in the driver’s seat of a variety of alt-fuel vehicles during the ever-popular Ride & Drive.

The opening keynote speaker was Mark Smith, vehicle technologies deployment manager for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities Program, who gave an overview of the program and discussed the fleet challenges and successes the program has charted over the past 20 years.
The closing keynote address by John Viera, Ford’s global director of sustainability, discussed the business benefits of running an alt-fuel fleet.

Innovative sessions included the “All Fuels Super Session,” moderated by Richard Battersby, equipment services manager for the City of Oakland, in a talk show-style format that looked at the benefits of each alt-fuel type.

Attendees braved cold weather and gusty Chicago winds to take part in this year’s Ride & Drive. Attendees had the opportunity to drive vehicles ranging from a Mercedes-Benz electric B-Class to the 2015 all-aluminum Ford F-150. A total of 16 companies took part in the event.

Fleets were honored for the sustainability efforts with the Fleet Sustainability All-Stars award. Representatives from most of the honored fleets were in on-hand to be recognized for their green efforts.

First-time Green Fleet Conference attendees had the opportunity to take part in a break-the-ice session before the conference kicked off, networking and getting to know other attendees in a “speed-date” style format.