Organised by LAPV, the City of London and the City of New York, and supported by CILT, Future Fleet Forum was the culmination of a year of international work and coordination to pull together leaders from around the world to promote fleet safety and sustainability, writes Eric Richardson, Deputy Chief Fleet Manager for the City of New York.
In 2018, London joined NYC in announcing a Vision Zero plan to improve road safety. Among many initiatives, London committed to transition to high vision trucks. This effort helped inspire NYC Fleet's similar commitment announced in November 2018 and was a result of last year's forum and partnership.
Government speakers in 2019 included NYPD Deputy Commissioner Robert Martinez; David May, Fleet Manager, Iowa Department of Transportation; and City of Montreal Fleet Department Director Philippe Saint-Vil. The City of Stockholm and the City of London offered presentations along with many participating organisations including C40, ITS UK, and the Transport Research Laboratory. There were also many private sector presentations on topics such as fleet sustainability, electric vehicles, and road safety by companies including Electra Commercial Vehicles, AssetWorks, Aebi Schmidt Deutschland, BIFFA, Geesinknorba, and Oddboy Media.
Representing New York City at this year's event, NYPD Deputy Commissioner Robert Martinez presented on the unique challenges of managing a law enforcement fleet, the growing cybersecurity risks for fleets as vehicles become more reliant on computer systems and devices and how electric vehicles can revolutionise government fleet operations.
Deputy Commissioner Martinez also announced to the international crowd the coming transition at NYPD to hybrid police response vehicles, which will reduce both fuel and maintenance costs for NYPD, and serve as a role model for law enforcement fleets throughout the world. Each unit could save over GBP £3.115 (US $4,000) annually on operating costs.
DCAS completed a first contract for hybrid police sedans in 2018. There are now 156 of these units on order for NYPD and also DOC and DEP. These units will arrive in Spring 2019. While NYC Fleet operates over 7,000 alternative fuel vehicles, including hybrids, these will be the first hybrid units designed as pursuit vehicles for policing and able to handle the electric load and high-performance operational needs for NYPD. DCAS Procurement is now working also on a hybrid SUV contract for NYPD.
DCAS will be posting presentations and more information about the forum on its website in the upcoming weeks. The commitment to international fleet partnership will also continue. DCAS, Propulsion Quebec, the City of Montreal, LAPV, and the City of London will be hosting a next international fleets forum on June 3 - 4, 2019 in Montreal, Canada at the Montreal Science Center. Speakers will include NYC Chief Fleet Officer Keith Kerman, NYPD's Chief of Transportation Thomas Chan, and fleet sustainability leaders and road safety advocates from Montreal, London, and other municipalities. Information about this forum can be found at https://propulsionquebec.com/impulsionmtl/en/.
