Montreal, October 7, 2020- Propulsion Québec, Quebec’s cluster for electric and intelligent transportation, is pleased to announce the holding of the 2nd edition of the International Forum on Vehicle Fleet Management IMPULSION MTL. Through a series of five events organized between October 2020 and April 2021, participants will have the chance to learn more about various topics related to the renewal, management and electrification of vehicle fleets. The five planned events will take place on the following dates:
- October 27, 2020;
- December 8, 2020;
- January 26, 2020;
- March 16, 2021;
- April 27, 2021.
This 2020 edition of IMPULSION MTL, co-presented by the Government of Quebec and organized in collaboration with the cities of New York and Chicago, and in partnership with Québecor, Hydro-Québec and AttriX Integrated Partner GeoTab, will bring together professionals and suppliers around a common goal: renewing vehicle fleets through the new technologies and solutions available on the market in order to meet environmental, social, operational and regulatory requirements. Participants will be invited to reflect together on the industry’s best practices and will have the opportunity to discuss concrete, proven solutions, as well as discover targeted business opportunities. Several topics will be addressed during these events:
- the management and operation of vehicle fleets in land transportation;
- charging and batteries;
- urban logistics;
- connectivity and safety.
The desire to deploy zero-emission, collision-free and higher-performing vehicle fleets at scale is generating enormous interest in Quebec and around the world; it is indeed the future of mobility. This new event format will allow local and international speakers to be hosted and will showcase Quebec companies that have developed different types of vehicles and technologies for electrifying commercial vehicles.
In the context of this global pandemic and to respect the recommendations of public health authorities, the format of this edition will favor virtual activities such as conferences, webinars, panels, matchmaking meetings, virtual booths, live interviews and collaborative workshops.
Official launch: October 27, 2020
The official opening ceremony will be held virtually on October 27, 2020 and will address the theme of the management and operation of vehicle fleets in land transportation. Several distinguished guests and speakers will take part in this launch, including the Minister of Economy and Innovation, Pierre Fitzgibbon, as well as Quebec’s Delegate to Chicago, Martine Hébert. Representatives from the partner cities – Keith Todd Kerman from New York as well as Kevin Campbell and John Wedel from Chicago – will take part in the opening panel entitled “Electrification Objective: The Cities Speak.” The panel “Cities’ commitment and electrification strategies to minimize the environmental impact of vehicle fleets” will, for its part, host Mark Stevens from the city of Sacramento and Brad Salazar from Denver.
Impulsion MTL is:
- A series of virtual activities not to be missed for municipal, public, parapublic and private stakeholders to discuss best practices for managing the vehicle fleets of tomorrow from a zero-emission perspective;
- Speakers from several major North American cities – including New York, Chicago, Sacramento and Denver – who share their solutions to address the main challenges facing the electric and intelligent transportation industry, including procurement, compliance, safety and sustainability issues.
The first edition of this International Forum took place in 2019 at the Montreal Science Centre, bringing together nearly 350 participants from the public and private sectors, as well as 50 local and international speakers who are experts on safety, intelligence and environmental issues. About twenty companies were then able to take advantage of the exhibition area to showcase various types of vehicles, technological solutions and concrete options to electrify and connect vehicle fleets.
Quotes
“We are very happy to be able to build on the success of the first edition of Impulsion MTL and to propose a reinvented virtual format – adapted to the reality of COVID-19 – that will allow the conversation around fleet renewal to continue and be enriched. In the face of this unprecedented crisis, it is more relevant than ever to encourage the electrification of vehicle fleets as governmental and environmental leaders mobilize for a greener, fairer and more prosperous recovery. This second edition of the Forum will be an opportunity to share successes from here and elsewhere, as well as to showcase Quebec innovations and best practices that can accelerate electrification. At the same time, we will be able to shine a light on our dynamic Quebec ecosystem by promoting our flourishing and innovative companies on the international stage,” said Sarah Houde, President and CEO of Propulsion Québec, the cluster for electric and intelligent transportation.
“With its abundant hydroelectricity, renowned researchers and the expertise of its companies active in the electrification sector, Quebec has earned a prime position at the heart of the global electric shift. It is now time to take advantage of these assets by developing a true Quebec battery industry, from the responsible exploitation of our strategic minerals to battery recycling,” said Pierre Fitzgibbon, Minister of Economy and Innovation.
“As a company strongly committed to the fight against climate change and to the electrification of transportation, Québecor is proud to act as a principal partner of Propulsion Québec and the IMPULSION MTL International Forum. This event offers a golden opportunity to share visions and exchange expertise among leaders from all backgrounds pursuing the same goal of a sustainable economy. This forum is all the more essential because this major transition can only succeed with the support and participation of all actors in society,” said Pierre Karl Péladeau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Québecor.
About Propulsion Québec
Quebec’s cluster for electric and intelligent transportation mobilizes all players in the sector around concerted projects aimed at positioning Quebec among the leaders in the development and deployment of land transportation modes that favor electric and intelligent transport. Created in 2017, Propulsion Québec now has more than 170 members from different sectors and deploys its resources across seven distinct workstreams aimed at developing and supporting innovative projects. The cluster benefits from the financial support of the Government of Quebec, the Government of Canada, the Montreal Metropolitan Community (CMM), the FTQ Solidarity Fund, the City of Quebec, Québecor and AttriX.
