Chico Lunch and Learn

Our Chico Lunch and Learn was held on Tuesday, June 2. We had nearly 40 attendees and it was standing room only with three detailed presentations and seven ZEV exhibits that ranged from heavy-duty vehicles  to construction equipment. 

Following a welcome by Keith Leech, NorCal Cities’ co-director, Mr. Ron Wirth, Fleet Advance Planning and Sustainability Manager with the County of Sacramento dove into strategies for using fleet data analytics for efficiency and regulatory compliance. Using a number of customized reports that he has developed using data from the County’s Fleet Management Information System, Mr. Wirth also provided details about how the County analyzes vehicle uses that can be transitioned to ZEV and how Fleet works with Departments to ease the transition to ZEVs.  

After Mr. Wirth, Tony Chang, VP of Fleet Sales for Verdek, presented the range of EV charging technologies and services available through Verdek, from simply supplying equipment to handling 100% of a major EV installation from scoping through permitting, handling construction and installation and continuing by including management and maintenance after everything is commissioned. Verdek services are available under the California State contract and under SourceWell.   

Marissa Campbell, Co-founder and Head of Commercial for Mitra EV, wrapped up the detailed presentations, providing information on how Mitra EV has created a menu of services that fleets and businesses can use to put EV service vehicles and chargers into operation. Bob Barber, owner of Royal Air in Chico, attended the workshop and had recently tested a GM Bright Drop supplied by Mitra EV. He indicated that the vehicle had proved itself in his HVAC service and had cost significantly less to operate than his standard vehicles. A white paper with an independent evaluation of the cost savings experienced by Mitra EV clients is available and a link to the white paper is noted here. 

Wrapping up the event, Tim Taylor, Co-director of the NorCal Clean Cities Coalition, reviewed the services that the coalition strives to provide to organizations with vehicle fleets as well as to community groups. Attendees were then invited to check the ZEV displays that included: 
  • Caltrans & Turlock Water District both put Sierra EV Pickup Trucks on Display 
  • Ethero displayed a Harbinger ZEV step van 
  • Hamre Equipment provided an Elise 900 ZEV skid steer loader 
  • Mitra EV exhibited a GM Bright Drop EV step van 
  • Model 1 had a Ford eTransit passenger van 
Link to Sacramento County's Presentation slides by Ronald Wirth can be found here.
Link to Verdek slides by Tony Chang can be found here.
Link to Mitra EV Slides by Marissa Campbell can be found here.
Link to NorCal Clean Cities Presentation Slides by Tim Taylor found here.