Last week, Sitetracker had the honor of joining leaders across the transportation industry at North America’s largest conference for the advancement of clean transportation. With over 12,000 stakeholders from throughout the industry, 2700+ fleet operators, and over 200 advanced (and very cool) vehicles at the show, ACT Expo was one for the books.
Here are our key takeaways from the show.
- The Transition is Here.
While every speaker, vendor, and attendee had a unique opinion on how we can advance clean transportation, one theme was common throughout: we have to decarbonize. The transportation industry is deeply aware that there needs to be change. It is not only our collective responsibility, but also an opportunity to evaluate operations and find ways to both decarbonize and decrease costs.
- The EV industry is Still Young.
Another takeaway that came from multiple leaders within heavy duty fleet operations especially was around EV charging. Everyone wants to decarbonize. Policies and funding are coming to life at a rapid pace to support the change. So far, electrification has been the primary method to achieve that change. However the industry is still too young. The TCO (total cost of ownership) for an EV versus the current diesel standard is still much too high. Furthermore, the TCT (total cost to transport) with EVs versus diesel is also significantly higher.
While fleet owners have a responsibility and collective goal to lower carbon emissions, they also must ensure their businesses can continue to run profitably and consumers do not have to bear the pains (or costs) of change. We need to keep considering alternative fuels like renewable natural gas or hydrogen, particularly as the EV industry is still maturing. We need improvements in vehicle, battery, and charging technologies. We also need significantly more infrastructure.
- Infrastructure is CRITICAL.
As we listened to the top executives from major OEMs and Fleet Operators throughout North America, one fact was clear: there is currently not enough infrastructure to support the mass adoption of electric vehicles. The industry believes that EV is a fantastic path towards decarbonization and zero emission transportation, and moreover that it can someday be more economically viable. However, none of that is achievable until we have enough infrastructure to support the electrified fleets of today and tomorrow. So how do we get there? Partnership.
- We Must Come Together.
Peter Voorhoeve of Volvo Trucks North America said it best, “Partnership is the new leadership.” The industry must adopt a more open and collaborative mindset in order to move forward with the transition to electrified transportation. It’s the only way we can get the lasting, resilient policies and funding critical to supporting the transition. It’s the only way to push OEMs to invest in new innovations. And it’s the only way we can make strides towards better and significantly more charging infrastructure to support electrified vehicles of any class – from light duty vehicles to heavy duty 18 wheelers.
We’re so thankful we got the opportunity to join everyone at ACT Expo 2024 as the industry came together to find solutions to today’s most pressing challenges in clean transportation. From thought-provoking keynotes and panel sessions to countless booth conversations, it was an event we won’t soon forget. Sitetracker is proud to be part of this community and the change we are all looking to make in our journey towards a more sustainable future.
We want to thank everyone who made ACT Expo 2024 such a success, and we can’t wait to see you all again in Anaheim next year so we can keep the industry driving forward.
Ready to take the next step and learn how Sitetracker can help your business deploy faster and more efficiently? Reach out for your personalized demo today!
