Fleet Forward: The Tour announces the agenda for its first stop of the year, in Phoenix on Feb. 23.

Fleet Forward: The Tour consists of one-day, regional events in which fleet operators can drive EVs and experience other new technologies behind the wheel.

The Phoenix event, taking place at the Mesa Convention Center, features four educational seminars, a networking break with exhibitors and tabletop displays, lunch, and a ride & drive featuring the latest electric vehicle models. The day concludes with a networking happy hour.

Electrification Education

The day kicks off with a welcome from Karen Apple from the City of Phoenix. Five seminars will follow: The first is “Fleet Electrification — an Arizona Blueprint,” in which operators from commercial, corporate, and government fleets take the stage to discuss their paths to electrification.

The next seminar, “From the Trenches: Advice on Fleet Electrification from California,” features Richard Battersby of the City of Oakland, who will bring his 40 years of experience to deliver the must-have elements of a successful fleet electrification program. He’ll discuss his real-world work on planning infrastructure, accessing grants, procuring electric vehicles, and operating them.

Jason Kazmar, director of electric vehicle and sustainability strategy at Element Fleet Management, will follow with “Key Factors for Your Fleet Electrification Plan,” in which he’ll share the important steps for fleets just starting their electrification journey.

The next seminar turns to safety, in which Mobileye will present safety data and learnings specific to Arizona roadways and fleets.

The educational agenda will conclude with a working lunch and the seminar, “Fleet Electrification: Incentives, Assessments, and Where to Start.” Representatives from Arizona’s utilities will address potential electrical infrastructure and site upgrades, charger requirements, coordination with utilities, and how to create a procurement plan specific to individual fleets.

“Arizona has unique challenges and opportunities when it comes to electrification and zero emissions, and we’re excited to deliver the education these fleets need, including information on Arizona-specific grants,” said Chris Brown, conference chair.

Behind the Wheel

The agenda then moves outdoors for the Ride & Drive and Technology Experience, in which attendees can get behind the wheel and experience the latest EV models with subject matter experts from the manufacturers.

The Ride & Drive features vehicles from these manufacturers, with more details and new models to be announced:

• Exro Technologies

• Ford

• General Motors

• Lightning eMotors

• Nissan

• Polestar

• Tesla

• Volvo

“Our Tour stops are designed for fleet managers to experience electrification firsthand — not only behind the wheel, but also one-on-one with subject matter experts who are ready to help them begin with EVs,” said Chris Brown, conference chair.

The networking happy hour follows the Ride & Drive.

2023 Tour Schedule

Following the Phoenix stop, Fleet Forward: The Tour rolls on to Atlanta-Peachtree Corners on March 30. After that, the Tour arrives in Chicago in June, followed by a new stop in the New York metro area in September, then returns to Dallas in October.

The Tour stops lead up to the larger Fleet Forward Conference, which will again convene in November 2023 at the Santa Clara Marriott.

Registration for the Phoenix stop at the Mesa Convention Center is open now.

Check out highlights from the Atlanta Tour stop from March 31 in Peachtree Corners, Georgia.