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Conference Program & Events
Conference Schedule Conference Schedule
Timing of conference activities is currently a work in progress and subject to change. Check back regularly for the latest up-to-date schedule information.
Technical ToursThe following Technical Tours are being planned for Wednesday, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and going through noon. City of Las Vegas The City of Las Vegas boasts one of the largest and most diverse alternative fuel vehicle programs in the country. Tour participants will visit the City of Las Vegas fleet management center, learning about the City’s use of biodiesel, CNG, hydrogen and hydrogen-enriched natural gas fueling facilities. You will also see a myriad of alternative fuel vehicles operated by the City, including hydrogen powered shuttle buses, CNG powered street sweepers, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles and more. Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) RTC operates some of the most advanced technology buses and paratransit vehicles in the country. Visit a world-class transit maintenance facility that includes a CNG fueling facility as well as various bus technologies, including the futuristic Civis vehicle that is utilized in the Metropolitan Area Express or MAX Ride program. A cross between a bus and a bullet train, the 61-foot MAX vehicle can carry approximately 120 passengers and has a unique and attractive appearance. It features an environmentally sound hybrid diesel-electric propulsion engine. Learn about RTC’s advanced plans for the future of transportation in Las Vegas. Yellow Checker Star Transportation (YCS) Yellow Checker Star operates more than 900 propane-powered taxi cabs in Las Vegas, and has done so successfully since 1975. This makes YCS the largest alternative fueled taxi cab fleet in the country. YCS opened its brand new operations center in 2006, where the company converts Ford taxi cabs to operate on propane as well as fuels its fleet every day. Tour participants will visit the YCS facility and will learn first-hand what makes the company’s AFV program so successful. Las Vegas Valley Water District (LVVWD) The Las Vegas Valley Water District (LVVWD) is a crown jewel both for its commitment to alternative fuels and advanced transportation technologies, and as the owner and steward of the Springs Preserve. The Springs Preserve is a 180-acre historical preservation project that demonstrates sustainable-living technology. Recycled steel and solar-power panels are dominant features in a spectacular setting that includes a museum, walking trails, a 46,000 square-foot desert-living center, all designed to demonstrate sustainable living. Alternative fuels are featured as part of the experience both in the Springs Preserve and at the water district itself. The tour incorporates a stop at the central refueling location of the LVWWD, which operates hundreds of CNG, biodiesel and hydrogen powered vehicles. Fleet DayTuesday, May 13, is Fleet Day. Fleet decision-makers operating 10 or more vehicles who cannot attend the entire Conference will be admitted to the Expo Marketplace for free. The Expo Marketplace is filled with the latest vehicles, fueling equipment, and advanced technologies, as well as exhibits of fuel associations, service providers and more. There is also a Ride-n-Drive, where you can test drive the newest vehicles available for purchase. There is no charge for qualified fleets, but you will need to complete a registration form in exchange for a wrist band. The Expo Marketplace is open to fleets from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Public DayWednesday, May 14, is Public Day. Consumer interest in alternative fuels and advanced technology vehicles is growing, but as the market expands it is tough to stay on top of what vehicles are available for purchase today. The Expo is open from 8:00 a.m. to Noon for the general public to come in, kick the tires, and find out which vehicles make the most sense for them. There is no admission fee. AFVi AwardsAFVi is committed to drawing industry attention to those who have done outstanding work to advance the sale and/or use of alternative fuels and advanced technology vehicles. While one time honorary awards are sometimes added, the traditional awards that will be handed out the conference include: The Green Award 2008 will showcase the value of powerful communications and marketing strategies. We honor branding efforts or organizations that have demonstrated their commitment to alternative fuels in a creative way, across different media platforms and marketing disciplines. The Green Awards, similar to the environmental issues they showcase, have an impact that extends far beyond the narrow spectrum of the marketing industry. Industry Visionary Award 2008 is the honor given to an alternative fuels veteran who has the ability to look ahead and see what everyone else misses. Characteristics of the honoree include business acumen, risk-taking, a philanthropic spirit and national leadership. Industry Innovation Award 2008 This award honors private companies that collaboratively identify solutions to clean transportation obstacles. The business model being rewarded has replicability beyond the collaborators winning the award. Industry Pioneer Award 2008 honors a company that was an early adopter of a fuel or technology and tenaciously has shown leadership in seeing their vision come to fruition. The Green Fleet Award 2008 is the industry's main showcase event to promote the manufacture and usage of environmentally friendly fleets - both large and small - in the public and private sectors. The award is given to a supplier or user of biodiesel, liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), compressed natural gas (CNG), and hybrid vehicles, and gain the recognition for owning the greenest fleets around. Oxygen Award 2008 This award applauds and encourages the cities, companies, and individuals who have made a dedicated effort to improve and protect our air quality. Because the quality of the air around us has such a strong impact on our health, it is important to recognize those who are taking concrete steps to protect it. Selection Process AFVi selects the winners of these awards and they are presented at the annual conference. Since we don't know everyone who is doing great work, though, we appreciate hearing from people who think a company or individual is worthy of recognition. If you have a suggestion, please email it to info@afvi.org. We need the nominee's name and phone number, as well as a description of why you think your nominee should be recognized. A brief synopsis of what tangible results they've accomplished through their efforts will help us with our evaluation. Please include your contact information as well. List of 2007 Award Winners Green Award 2007 Green Fleet Award 2007 Industry Innovation Award 2007 Industry Pioneer Award 2007 Industry Visionary Award 2007 Oxygen Award 2007 |
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(photo right), Director of Marketing for Fleet and Commercial Operations. The award showcases commitment to a product in a creative way, across different media platforms and marketing disciplines. General Motors is a leader in the production and sales of flex fuel vehicles (FFVs), with over 2 million E85 flex fuel vehicles on the road in all 50 states. For the 2007 model year, GM is offering 16 E85 vehicle models, with an annual production of more than 400,000 vehicles. This is more than any other manufacturer. FFVs can run on gasoline, ethanol or a mixture of the two. E85 is 85% ethanol and 15% unleaded gasoline. Recognizing that many consumers don't know they own E85 compatible vehicles, GM launched their national campaign to raise consumer awareness. Promoting the use of E85 ethanol is just one part of GM's overall goals of creating greater diversity in technologies and energy sources, and emission reductions. 
The award was given to honor the company for their leadership and consistency in manufacturing vehicles that provide fleets and customers with the greenest choices around. AFVi joins a long list of those honoring the automaker for its green vehicles, ranging from ACEEE naming the Civic GX "America's Greenest Car," to a jury of 46 international automotive journalists giving the Civic Hybrid the "2006 World Car of the Year" award. Honda is commended for the long-term commitment to the natural gas fueled Civic GX; the fuel-efficient performance of the Civic Hybrid; having the highest corporate average fuel economy of any major OEM, and their pioneering work in introducing their FCX fuel cell Sedan in fleet and highway demonstrations.
companies that collaboratively identify solutions to clean transportation obstacles. The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach in California have all developed clean air action plans to combat public health risks from toxic air contaminants. Trucks are one of the biggest transportation polluters and consume over half of the oil used for road transport. The solution? A fuel provider with a finance program; an engine manufacturer with more than 15,000 engines globally; a leading manufacturer of heavy-and medium-duty trucks; and a dealer to sell the product. Together, they are making affordable natural gas trucks available to fleets and independent owner-operators now driving older, heavily polluting diesel vehicles. This business model is being rewarded as one that is replicable by others beyond the collaborators winning the award. (Photo from left to right: Annalloyd Thomason, James Harger, Mike Gallagher, Andy Douglas, Graham Noyes, Mark Zucker and Larry Hagman.)
The Industry Pioneer Award 2007 was presented to Anne Smith (photo right), Sr. Vice President of Customer Services for the Southern California Gas Company (The Gas Company) by Santa Ana, California Mayor Miguel Pulido (photo left). An "Industry Pioneer" is an early adopter of a fuel or technology that over time advances their vision through successful public/private partnerships. The Gas Company had the foresight in the early 1970s to embrace natural gas as a transportation fuel. Even then, the clean, affordable fuel was accepted as a tool to combat the inevitable environmental challenges resulting from the population growth that southern California was facing. In spite of waning interest in natural gas as a transportation fuel over the decades, the Gas Company continued its strong program. As a result, the greater Los Angeles Area has benefited from the prescience of a key corporate ally that understood the threats that climate change and oil dependence would pose. Southern California Gas Company is commended for making business decisions for the common good.
of America's most generous philanthropists, ranking in the top 10 of U.S. givers for his 2005 and 2006 philanthropy, which approached $400 million. Recipients of his philanthropy have been far-reaching, from the American Red Cross to his alma mater, Oklahoma State University, and from the Reagan Presidential Library Foundation to the Wilmer Eye Institute. His forecasts of U.S. Energy issues have proven uncannily accurate, and he is a frequent guest on some of nation's most respected news programs. Mr. Pickens is not shy in proposing solutions to America's increasing dependence on foreign oil, with a current focus on the need to expand the use of nuclear energy and clean coal for power generation, with coal replacing what he believes is a cleaner, abundant domestic alternative natural gas in the transportation arena. (Photo from left to right: Larry Hagman, T. Boone Pickens, Annalloyd Thomason)
taking concrete steps to improve the city's air quality through the use of alternative transportation fuels. The city was recently ranked by SustainLane as the number three city in the country for the use of alternative fuels, which they've done since 1996. They currently have 218 compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles in various departments, including Kansas City International Airport's 35 buses. In 2002 the water department began using biodiesel in their more than 900 diesel-powered vehicles. The city is involved in a number of collaborations ranging from alternative fuel research and development with the University of Missouri-Columbia and the Midwest Research Institute to supporting the work of the Kansas City Clean Cities coalition. (Photo from left to right: Larry Hagman, Sam Swearngin, Annalloyd Thomason)