Three Midwestern Clean Cities coalitions are rolling out a Chicago-area green transportation conference this May.
The Lake Michigan Consortium – a partnership between Clean Cities coalitions from Chicago, Wisconsin and northern Indiana – will host the 2018 Green Drives Conference and Expo at Northern Illinois University’s Conference Center in Naperville, Ill., on May 17.
Speakers and highlights of this year’s program include as follows:
- John Davis, Emmy Award-winning host of the “MotorWeek” television series;
- Doyle Sumrall, managing director of NTEA – The Association for the Work Truck Industry;
- John Boesel, president and CEO of CALSTART; and
- Julie Furber, executive director of Cummins’ electrification business.
Advanced technologies, electric vehicles and other alternative fuels will be showcased, including 40 green vehicles and up to 25 indoor exhibitors. A ride-and-drive event will also be held.
Executives from automakers will discuss their newest vehicles and technologies, and businesses and municipalities will discuss how they went green with their fleets. The leaders of the three coalitions will also offer updates on funding opportunities and incentives that make clean transportation more affordable.
The Lake Michigan Consortium comprises Chicago Area Clean Cities, South Shore Clean Cities and Wisconsin Clean Cities. The three nonprofit coalitions are focused on promoting cleaner energy for private and public fleets in the Chicago area, Wisconsin and northern Indiana.
“At Green Drives, we connect the people and technologies that help make sustainable transportation a reality,” says John Walton, chair of Chicago Area Clean Cities. “As one of the largest events of its kind in the Midwest, this conference is a great opportunity to learn about electric vehicles, alternative fuels, charging and fueling infrastructure, as well as funding and incentive programs to help green your fleet.”
He notes that at last year’s show, more than 40% of attendees were from commercial and government fleets.
More information on the event can be found here.