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VERGE 19 Program

VERGE Carbon Program

VERGE Circular Program

VERGE Energy Program

VERGE Transport Program

VERGE Virtual Archive Available
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  • All VERGE Transport Tracks
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See the Full VERGE 19 Program

VERGE Transport

Tuesday, October 22nd, 2019
8:00am to 12:00pm
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Commercial ZEV Summit (RSVP Required)

Skyline

The VERGE 19 Commercial Zero-Emission Vehicle Summit, organized in collaboration with CALSTART, is a half-day, invitation-only working session focused on prioritizing actions that can accelerate the deployment of zero-emission commercial vehicles on California’s roads. The Summit will convene more than 100 people, including auto manufacturers, policy makers, city officials, corporate leaders, utilities, infrastructure providers and technology developers.

Refer to our Commercial Zero-Emission Vehicle Summit page for more information and to request an invitation. 

Speakers

  • Shana Rappaport
  • Bill Van Amburg

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8:30am to 12:00pm
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Decarbonizing Logistics: Metrics, Efficiency and Collaboration

Tutorial
Junior Ballroom 2/3

Global shipping emissions are rising thanks to growing demand for consumer goods and on-demand e-commerce. But some companies are trying to decarbonize shipping — across maritime, air, ground and rail — as a way to meet sustainability goals and lower fuel costs. There's an emerging trend of retailers advocating for electric delivery from transportation providers as well as using offsets to reach short term goals. At the same time, maritime shipping companies are adopting new technologies in an effort to cut emissions in half by 2050. This tutorial, led by BSR's Clean Cargo Working Group and the Smart Freight Centre, will dive into the complex options that companies have to lower their carbon emissions associated with shipping and the metrics and collaborations needed to succeed. 

Speakers

  • Nicolas De Golia
  • Sophie Punte
  • Katie Fehrenbacher
  • Angie Farrag-Thibault
  • Chelsea Mozen
  • Patrick Browne
  • Eric Olson
  • Mads Stensen
  • Nathan Loftice
  • Kathrin Brost

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Future Cities Carbon Action Challenge

Tutorial
Grand Ballroom Salon G,H

This action challenge is designed for high-impact leaders to align on most critical problems confronting cities committed to delivering on their bold 2050 carbon neutrality goals. Diverse stakeholders will propose 12-month solutions through collaborative, competitive dialogue to best address these urgent obstacles while ensuring greater resiliency and overall social equity. 


Keynote speakers will be challenged to align stakeholders around the most pressing issues and essential solutions/initiatives necessary to reach carbon neutrality2050. Stakeholder participants will be challenged to collaborate, prioritize and propose winning 12-month solutions with measurable milestones. Come ready to roll up your sleeves; this is an interactive session that contains decision-making, debate and accountability. 

 

Speakers

  • HG Chissell
  • Melanie Nutter
  • Christine Weydig
  • Daniel Hamilton
  • Edward Yim
  • Shaun Hoyte
  • Kathryn Wright
  • Jonathan Foley
  • Alisa Kreynes
  • Jon Coleman
  • Amos White
  • Jenna Agins
  • Rachel Healy
  • Julian Loren
  • Christine Weydig
  • Daniel Hamilton

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4:00pm to 5:00pm
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The Emergence of Circular Transportation

Breakout
OCC 201

Our complex transportation networks and supply chains need to highlight circular manufacturing and principles in order to reduce emissions and meet sustainability goals. This session surveys programs addressing closed-loop, zero-emission fuel use, vehicle tire circular systems, auto remanufacturing and electric vehicle battery material recycling and reuse.

Tracks

  • Vehicle Electrification
  • Smart Infrastructure

Speakers

  • Amon Rappaport
  • Mark Patterson
  • Christine Weydig
  • Theodore Rolfvondenbaumen

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Electric Aviation Is Taking Off

Breakout
OCC 210/11

Think electric planes and other flying vehicles are decades off? Think again. Batteries are on the cusp of being powerful enough to propel a small plane for a short hop — say, from Silicon Valley to Los Angeles. Other flying vehicles, like electric vertical take-off and landing, are being built and piloted in remote regions such as the Mojave Desert. Electric aviation is coming, and this session will explain what transportation professionals need to know about it.

Tracks

  • Vehicle Electrification
  • Emerging Technology
  • Smart Infrastructure

Speakers

  • Paul Stith
  • JoeBen Bevirt
  • Joseph Oldham
  • Nikhil Goel
  • Uma Subramanian

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Corporate Electric & Sustainable Transport Strategies

Breakout
OCC 208

There's a whole array of strategies that companies can deploy to encourage electric and more sustainable transportation to, from and around corporate campuses, including employee electric vehicle purchasing, on-campus EV charging, e-shuttle bus use, on-campus mobility options and better last mile solutions. This session will provide insights into the programs that are available to your company and the incentives you can tap into.

Tracks

  • Vehicle Electrification
  • Smart Infrastructure

Speakers

  • Kristin Hanczor
  • Andy Jefferson
  • Elysa Hammond
  • Erin McNichol
  • Natasha Tuck

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Wednesday, October 23rd, 2019
8:30am to 9:30am
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The Evolution of Urban Mobility

Breakout
OCC 208

Mobility-as-a-service is changing the way we move within cities, but we need mobility systems that create liveable cities, are sustainable and are inclusive of all citizens. In this session mobility providers, transportation planners, and city leaders will discuss how to build mobility and micromobility systems that can decarbonize transportation and are accessible for everyone.

Tracks

  • Urban Mobility
  • Smart Infrastructure

Speakers

  • Sam Arons
  • Melinda Hanson
  • Daniel Hill
  • Peter Harris
  • Danielle Dai

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The State of Electric Trucks

Breakout
OCC 201

In collaboration with the North American Council for Freight Efficiency and as part of their Run on Less Regional demonstration, a panel of trucking experts will explore the state of electric trucks.  Regional haul described as trucks that stay in an area with a 300-mile radius and those with dedicated routes will be early adopters of Class 8 electric HD tractors.  The conditions are ripe for this to accelerate the growth of electric trucks in North America goods movement.

Tracks

  • Vehicle Electrification

Speakers

  • Mike Roeth
  • James O'Leary
  • Alex Voets
  • Amanda Phillips
  • Justin Bardin

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The Movement To Integrate Electric Buildings & EVs

Breakout
OCC 210/11

Companies, universities and even cities are beginning to embrace the “electrify everything” movement for heating and cooling buildings, as well as for powering on-campus, employee-owned and corporate fleet electric vehicles. This session will explain how these electric building and electric vehicle systems interconnect, how they can be powered cleanly, how EVs can be used as grid services, and the first steps organizations can take to deploy these dual electric programs.

Tracks

  • Vehicle Electrification
  • Smart Infrastructure

Speakers

  • Clay Collier
  • Mary Ann Piette
  • Kate Harrison
  • Kevin Wood
  • Katie Fehrenbacher

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Lessons Learned from Early Autonomous Vehicle Projects

Breakout
OCC 202

The first autonomous vehicle projects — both slow-moving shuttles on campuses and more widely deployed robotaxis — have been launched, and companies and city leaders are beginning to learn valuable lessons from these early programs. This session will explain the most important takeaways that organizations need to know as they investigate autonomous vehicle technology.

Tracks

  • Urban Mobility
  • Emerging Technology
  • Smart Infrastructure

Speakers

  • Ruth Cox
  • Justin Erlich
  • Gary Miskell
  • Nigel Daniels
  • Sahar Shirazi

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12:15pm to 1:15pm
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Roundtable Lunch: The Road More Electrified: How to Optimize Routing And Charging Strategies for Fleets

Lunch
10th Street

Efficiency-based routing has long been a prevailing operational strategy in the trucking industry. As companies with over-the-road business models consider the transition to electrification, the lack of national or robust multi-state charging infrastructure will be a considerable barrier to adoption. Join us to discuss: Is it possible for these companies to develop over-the-road charging strategies without sacrificing routing efficiencies or breaking the bank? How can companies work together to mitigate gaps in over-the-road charging availability in the near term?

About Roundtable Lunches: Join interactive lunch discussions, moderated by an expert or thought leader, held at roundtables of up to 10 participants. These are freeform discussions, so bring your own challenges, questions, and ideas to talk through and get to know your fellow conference participants. All roundtable lunches do not have advanced sign-up — participation is first-come, first-served. 

 

Speakers

  • Jennifer Wheeler

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Roundtable Lunch: Is It “Hydrogen or Batteries” or “Hydrogen and Batteries?"

Lunch
10th Street

Every company has its own unique duty cycle, operating environment, climate goals and culture. This diversity paired with the comparative strengths of each potential energy solution results in a complex transition from basically one fuel to potentially multiple fuels with broad implications. In the clean energy transition, it can be confusing. But there are benchmarks and guidances out there to help us answer: How do we choose? Join us to learn some best practices for unique businesses and diverse sectors.

About Roundtable Lunches: Join interactive lunch discussions, moderated by an expert or thought leader, held at roundtables of up to 10 participants. These are freeform discussions, so bring your own challenges, questions, and ideas to talk through and get to know your fellow conference participants. All roundtable lunches do not have advanced sign-up — participation is first-come, first-served.

Speakers

  • Elizabeth Fretheim

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Roundtable Lunch: Emerging Mobility: New Opportunities and Considerations in Planning Equitable, Sustainable Transportation Systems

Lunch
10th Street

The way that we have planned, funded and implemented mobility projects since the advent of the automobile has resulted in inequities, literally built into our communities. Emerging mobility creates an opportunity and an imperative to shift our methods and address past harms, improve future outcomes, and ensure that mobility decisions create positive impacts on cities. This roundtable will consider the opportunities, challenges and methods to ensure the shifting mobility landscape creates more equitable outcomes.

About Roundtable Lunches: Join interactive lunch discussions, moderated by an expert or thought leader, held at roundtables of up to 10 participants. These are freeform discussions, so bring your own challenges, questions, and ideas to talk through and get to know your fellow conference participants. All roundtable lunches do not have advanced sign-up  – participation is first-come, first-served. 

 

Speakers

  • Sahar Shirazi

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Roundtable Lunch: Integrating Autonomous Vehicles into a Transportation Ecosystem

Lunch
10th Street

Exciting headlines say that autonomous vehicles will transform the transportation industry in the coming years — but are we ready? The buzz about self-driving cars and fleets can ignore some key questions that must be answered first. Join us to find out: What role will autonomous vehicles play in the overall transportation ecosystem? How can cities prepare for an autonomous future, and what work needs to be done in order to move the needle forward to ensure a balanced transportation system? 

About Roundtable Lunches: Join interactive lunch discussions, moderated by an expert or thought leader, held at roundtables of up to 10 participants. These are freeform discussions, so bring your own challenges, questions, and ideas to talk through and get to know your fellow conference participants. All roundtable lunches do not have advanced sign-up  – participation is first-come, first-served.

Speakers

  • Jill North

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1:15pm to 5:00pm
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Low-Carbon and Electric Fleet Workshop

Workshop
OCC 208

Managers of public and private vehicle fleets are working on purchasing low- and zero-emission vehicles to meet sustainability goals and lower operating costs. But navigating the complicated landscape of what's available, which technology to use for various duty cycles, how to build out the right infrastructure and what funding sources to tap into, can be difficult and confusing. This interactive workshop, in partnership with NAFA, will seek to tackle these questions and help the growing fleet industry reach sustainability and economic goals.

Tracks

  • Vehicle Electrification
  • Smart Infrastructure

Speakers

  • Elizabeth Fretheim
  • Mike O'Connell
  • Richard Battersby
  • Dawn Fenton
  • JoAnne Golden
  • Nate Springer
  • Steve McDougal
  • Ben Prochazka
  • Michael McDonald
  • Patty Monahan
  • Julie Johnson
  • Ryan Popple
  • Jennifer Cohn

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1:15pm to 2:15pm
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How to Build & Scale Smart, Profitable & Sustainable EV Infrastructure

Breakout
OCC 210/11

In this session attendees will learn what it takes to plan, build and operate high demand charging infrastructure that will not only create cleaner, livable cities, but is scalable, sustainable and profitable. Join technology innovators as they discuss how e-mobility models are changing the way we move within cities, and the practical realities of creating a new economy around this effort – built on a foundation of open-standards, powered by renewable energy sources, dynamically optimized and reinforced by the grid – and paving the way for the imminent electric transportation wave.

 

Speakers

  • Rob Massoudi
  • Karen Zelmar
  • Natalia Swalnick
  • Jonathan Levy

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Drones & Robots: How Emerging Tech is Changing Delivery

Breakout
OCC 201

Drone delivery has been on the cusp of emerging for years, but U.S. regulations have made progress slow. At the same time, autonomous delivery bots are being piloted on city streets. What's the state of drones and robots for moving our goods in urban and rural areas and what policies are guiding these early deployments?

Tracks

  • Emerging Technology
  • Smart Infrastructure

Speakers

  • Jill North
  • Chris Albrecht
  • Natasha Blum
  • Matthew Lipka

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2:30pm to 3:30pm
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How 5G Will Change Transportation

Breakout
OCC 201

The next generation of blazing fast wireless broadband networks, called 5G, is being rolled out this year and will soon start connecting cities, vehicles, street infrastructure and the cloud. Autonomous vehicles, also now emerging, will need super-fast connections to create safer environments for riders and pedestrians. Street and road infrastructure sensors connected to 5G can reduce congestion and make transportation more efficient. This session will explain how 5G could fundamentally change how transportation networks operate.

Tracks

  • Emerging Technology
  • Smart Infrastructure

Speakers

  • Louis Stewart
  • Sahar Shirazi
  • Jon Coleman
  • Sean Harrington
  • Austin Brown

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The Second Life of EV Batteries

Breakout
OCC 210/11

As the first mainstream electric vehicles age, companies are beginning to explore circular systems for moving batteries from EVs to stationary storage systems to recycling. Though it's still early days for these supply chains, big battery and automakers, investors and materials suppliers are investigating the best ways to design and implement these systems.

Tracks

  • Vehicle Electrification
  • Emerging Technology

Speakers

  • Michelle Bogen
  • Patrick Sagisi
  • Peter Nulsen
  • Cassie Bowe
  • Gregor Hintler

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4:00pm to 5:00pm
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AI and Machine Learning for Sustainable Transportation

Breakout
OCC 210/11

Startups and big tech companies are focused on building machine learning systems that can make transportation systems operate more efficiently, cleanly and with less congestion. Investors also see big opportunity. This session will offer a taste of how AI can help solve transportation problems including accelerating the adoption and smart charging of electric vehicles, and making urban mobility more efficient.

Tracks

  • Urban Mobility
  • Emerging Technology

Speakers

  • Heather Clancy
  • Damien Scott
  • Laura Schewel
  • Sila Kiliccote
  • Apoorv Bhargava
  • Matthew Moniot

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Lithium Valley? California's Untapped Lithium and Battery Resource

Breakout
OCC 201

There's a massive deposit of untapped lithium brines under the Salton Sea near California's southern border, which could be used to make lithium-ion batteries that power cell phones, laptops and, increasingly, electric cars. A rise in domestic lithium-ion battery production could lead to a local innovation hub, green energy jobs and needed development in the region. Power companies, battery makers, policymakers, automakers and tech startups are currently investigating how to unlock this potential.

Tracks

  • Vehicle Electrification
  • Emerging Technology

Speakers

  • Danny Kennedy
  • Dave Snydacker
  • Jonathan Weisgall
  • Karen Douglas
  • David Deak

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Thursday, October 24th, 2019
8:30am to 9:30am
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Electric Vehicles As Tomorrow's Grid Resource

OCC 208

The role of the utility is changing how electric vehicle infrastructure is deployed and the opportunities that EVs can provide for the grid. In this session, leading utilities and service providers will explain how EVs and EV charging can make the grid more resilient and distributed.

Tracks

  • Vehicle Electrification
  • Smart Infrastructure

Speakers

  • Preston Roper
  • Gregg Kresge
  • Smriti Mishra
  • John Wheeler

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1:30pm to 4:00pm
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Workshop: How Micromobility Will Lead to More Sustainable, Livable Cities

Workshop
OCC 210/11

The explosion of micromobility options — like shared e-bikes and e-scooters, or owned e-cargo bikes — in cities around the world is one of the most high-profile, and sometimes controversial, transportation trends of 2019. Well-funded scooter startups are battling it out for market share, ride-hailing players are looking to dominate and entrepreneurs are building brand new battery-powered mobility tools. But it’s actually cities who will be one of the key partners to micromobility companies as the public and private sectors will need to collaborate on key issues like data sharing, safety, and equity, in order to create more sustainable livable cities. This workshop will create a productive dialogue between cities and the micromobility community and seek to remove barriers that are preventing a thoughtful approach to the deployment of sustainable micromobility services. 

 

Tracks

  • Urban Mobility

Speakers

  • Ryan Russo
  • Ryan Schuchard
  • Warren Logan
  • Melinda Hanson
  • Sahar Shirazi
  • James Gross
  • Shannon Walker
  • Brian Holland
  • Kate Toran
  • Jonathan Hopkins
  • Kerby Olsen
  • Rachel Zack
  • JT Burke

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Workshop: What Will It Take To Rapidly Scale EV Infrastructure?

Workshop
OCC 208

The dynamic and evolving marketplace for electric vehicle charging infrastructure involves disparate stakeholders across utilities, real estate, retailers, city planners, policy makers, tech providers and automakers. What is clear is that there will need to be a substantial infrastructure build-out to support a future for widespread electrified transportation. What's the state of play for EV infrastructure and where is it going?

Tracks

  • Vehicle Electrification
  • Smart Infrastructure

Speakers

  • Ben Prochazka
  • Maryline Daviaud Lewett
  • Zach McGuire
  • Oleg Logvinov
  • Bonnie Datta
  • Gregg Kresge
  • Ben Foss
  • Emma Foehringer Merchant
  • Sara Rafalson

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3:00pm to 4:00pm
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The Purpose of Corporations

Breakout
Grand Ballroom Salon A,B

Corporate America has more power than ever, and with that comes a rising movement for it to better serve employees, communities and the environment. This session features experts from leading companies about the importance of making clean energy and climate front and center to ensure a happy workforce, ethical sourcing practices, and relevance in a quickly-changing world. 

 

Speakers

  • Bill Weihl
  • Sunya Norman
  • Holly Beale
  • Karolo Aparicio

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Carbontech: New Fuels and Chemicals from Greenhouse Gases

Breakout
OCC 204

Gasoline, jet fuel, valuable chemical feedstocks—all can be manufactured using a variety of recycled or captured greenhouse gases. In one pioneering test, jet fuel made from waste carbon was even used to fly a Boeing 747 across the Atlantic. As availability increases and prices fall, these next-gen fuels and chemicals have the potential over time to disrupt the market for fossil fuels, impacting businesses in transportation and other sectors. Speakers in this session include entrepreneurs behind the new fuels and chemicals, as well as their first customers.

 

Tracks

  • Emerging Technology

Speakers

  • Heidi Lim
  • Jennifer Holmgren
  • Jason Salfi
  • Brentan Alexander
  • Sean Newsum

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