• Leaving the Radisson for New Flyer facilities with a presentation by MCI Coach at the facilities
• Winnipeg Airport presenting on the autonomous wheelchair at New Flyer

Terrace West & East – 13th Floor

This panel will explore the development of battery electric bus technologies from the days of turn-key proprietary solutions to today’s standardized and interoperable systems that deliver plug-and-play solutions for transit agencies. Panelists will discuss the technical and political aspects of varying battery capacities, varying high- and low-powered charging systems, differing on-route versus depot charging strategies by cities, and the major issue of facility redesign that requires immediate attention for the electrification of transit systems today.

Moderator:
Dr. Josipa Petrunic, CUTRIC

This panel will explore the struggle to develop utility-led energy systems strategies that meaningfully support ubiquitous and widespread battery electric bus technology integrations by transit agencies. The panel will debate the differing opportunities available to transit systems that find themselves operating within vertically integrated crown corporation utilities (such as BC Hydro, Manitoba Hydro and Hydro Quebec) versus transit agencies that operate within a landscape of competitive utilities, as in Alberta, or local distribution companies that are not vertically integrated, as in Ontario. This mish-mash of utility systems landscapes creates non-standard approaches to transit electrification across Canada; more importantly, it’s led to fragmentation and a dearth of national energy systems planning and strategizing for transit electrification of the future.

Moderator:
Dr. Josipa Petrunic, CUTRIC

Some people are shouting from the rooftop that 5G is the way of the future for connected vehicles. On the contrary, other companies are adamant that dedicated short-range communication (DSRC) is the only feasible means for reliable low-latency vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication. From cellular network traffic concerns and lack of reliable “truly 5G” speeds, to obsolescence of DSRC modules and spectrum allocation petitions, there is no shortage of viewpoints and opinions on the great 5G vs. DSRC debate. So what to believe? This panel will discuss the pros and cons of each technology, break through some of the myths, and will endeavour to provide some clarity on a topic that has become defiant in its divide.

Moderator:
Kristina Mlakar, CUTRIC

Five years ago, it seemed like transit agencies still needed convincing — they were skeptical of battery electric bus technologies overall. Now, it seems every city is “going electric” in some way, shape or form…or thinking about doing so. The movement is underway to turf diesel and welcome electrons as propulsion fuel for buses, coaches, and trains. Whether it’s to save operational money, save the planet, or just deliver a better, cooler solution to transit riders across Canada, panellists will share and discuss the cutting edge strategies they are pursuing as some of the country’s most innovative transit systems to achieve zero-emissions transit services in the mid-term future.

Moderator:
-Dr. Josipa Petrunic, CUTRIC

This panel will explore the ongoing outcomes of transit experiences on the road with a variety of electric bus technologies. Across Canada and the United States, transit agencies are realizing that what they were sold is not always the same as what they were delivered. Transit agencies will discuss the benefits, pitfalls, and work-around solutions they are innovating to overcome the early-stage growing pains of fleet electrification. Panelists will be asked to offer recommendations to Canadian transit systems based on their real-time or historical experiences.

Moderator:
Jess Dawe, Clean Energy Canada

Automated vehicles could either drastically reduce or drastically increase congestion in urban cores based on policies and decisions made at the municipal level. With the advent and widespread usage of ride-sharing transportation network companies (TNCs), there is no doubt that the future of roadways will consist of automated vehicle fleets from Uber, Lyft, Waymo, and more recently, the big auto players looking to sell rides in their own automated vehicle fleets. How is a municipality supposed to manage and control this? Any decisions of allocating laneways or pricing roadways may result in strong pushback from both the public and private sector players. This panel will explore what the way forward ought to be to mitigate potential negative effects of automated vehicles whilst managing the commercial interests of private sector entities.

Moderator:
Michael Roschlau, Grande West Transportation Group

In 2010, automated shuttles were still a dream of the future; in 2020, they will be a reality in jurisdictions around the world. Automated Vehicle (AV) technology has progressed substantially over the past decade, but substantial challenges still remain before the technology can be trusted and can be “humanless” environments. The CEO of the world’s most advanced AV technology company – Waymo – publicly stated last year that AVs will never be able to drive in all circumstances. So, where is the technology really at now? Where has the technology come and where is it going? This fireside chat will dive into this discussion with two market leading manufacturers of automated shuttles.

Moderator:
Kristina Mlakar, CUTRIC

Canada is big, vast, expansive and the highways can seem never-ending. But Canadians need to get around. Whether it is crossing the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area to get from Oshawa to Hamilton to work for the day, or heading out from Calgary to Edmonton for a day trip with the family, coach bus systems move Canadians in important ways. But they are hard to electrify. The energy requirements, the charging power levels, the complicated bus designs that accommodate suitcases, and the infrastructure challenges across multi-jurisdictional highways all combine to make long-distance coach electrification tough. This panel will discuss how to crack the nut of long-distance coach electrification and how to bring electric mobility to Canadians along all highways, country roads and coach bus routes in the future.

Moderator:
Wendy Reuter, Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA)

Autonomous shuttle pilot projects are popping up in cities across Canada with similar pilots being replicated over and over. So what now? Most pilot projects are short-term and lack sufficient data collection, analysis and distribution to progress automated vehicle (AV) technology beyond the pilot stage. This panel explores Canadian experiences with AV shuttles. Panelists will discuss how cities foresee these shuttles overcoming technological, political, economic and social barriers to enable permanent deployments as first-mile/last-mile solutions in Canada that connect our transit systems with suburbs and workplaces.

Moderator:
Kristina Mlakar, CUTRIC

Municipalities are required to provide transit services to their residents that is equitable and accessible. Transit also provides critical mobility options for vulnerable populations who may not otherwise be able to get from one place to the next. With the proliferation of transportation network companies (TNCs) on roadways offering less expensive ride sharing options compared to traditional taxi services, TNCs threaten to remove ridership from transit, increase the economic burden on cities, widen the gap between socioeconomic classes, and increase congestion in urban cores. How can a city harness these new technologies to supplement existing fixed-route fixed-schedule transit services or alternatively provide small city residents a transit service for the first time? This panel will look at case studies in Canada where municipalities are testing out new technologies for on-demand and/or ride-sharing services in partnership with a private sector entity. This is previously untraversed terrain for transit and may lead to brilliant new service offerings or may leave transit in the dust.

Moderator:
Karen Cameron, Ontario Public Transit Association (OPTA)

Going electric is not cheap. Up front capital costs, civil works and integration costs, and some of the unknown risks and needs around digitized tracking, monitoring and data collection services mean electrification is a brave new world of shiny new tech that comes with a hefty price tag for cities and risks that are sometimes hard to predict on Day 1. Just as the future of zero emissions won’t be achieved with old technologies; it also won’t be achieved with outdated financial tools. This panel will discuss how to make electrification possible through financial innovation; building on Canada’s history of public-private partnerships, CUTRIC has launched an effort to develop a city-friendly set of “Innovation P3” models that allow cities to integrate technology innovation with creative financial, operations and maintenance solutions.

Moderator:
Dr. Josipa Petrunic, CUTRIC

Moderator:
Dr. Josipa Petrunic, CUTRIC