Date: April 29, 2026Time: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. PT
Location: Pechanga Arena | 3500 Sports Arena Blvd, San Diego, California
Join us for an exciting event where industry leaders, policymakers, fleet owners, OEMs, dealers, and the public come together to explore the latest advancements in zero-emissions technology and transportation solutions.
Come test drive the vehicles that are transforming transportation—hands-on, up close, and in action.
Registration is FREE but required for admission.
Why Attend:
- Connect with industry leaders, fleet owners, OEMs, and dealers
- Explore the latest zero-emissions vehicles directly from manufacturers
- Discover technical assistance and funding programs to support your zero-emissions technology purchases
- Tap into a rare opportunity—previous Ride & Drives offered access to 70+ advanced vehicles and equipment in one place
Get Behind the Wheel:
Test drive a wide range of zero-emissions vehicles.
- Medium and heavy-duty trucks and commercial vans (Class 2b-8)
- Off-road equipment
- School and transit buses
This is your opportunity to experience firsthand how zero-emissions technology is transforming the transportation industry.
Showcase Your Zero-Emission Solutions
Exhibitor registration for this event has closed. Stay connected to receive updates and invitations to future events by clicking the button below. For questions, please reach out to events@calstart.org.
Agenda
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 8:15 a.m. | Check-In Opens | Registration Booth |
| Complimentary Networking Breakfast | Catering Tent | |
| 9:00 a.m. | Welcoming Remarks
|
Main Stage |
| 9:15 a.m. | Drive Forward Introduction
|
North Presentation Tent |
Caltrans: Truck Parking & MD/HD ZEV Charging Infrastructure Development
|
South Presentation Tent | |
| Zero-Emission Ride & Drive Opens | Driving Course | |
| 9:25 a.m. | Cal Fleet Advisor: ZEV Myths Uncovered
|
North Presentation Tent |
| 9:50 a.m. | HVIP: Incentives for Clean Trucks & Buses
|
North Presentation Tent |
Infrastructure Panel: SDGE & Port of San Diego
|
South Presentation Tent | |
| 10:25 a.m. | Innovative Small e-Fleet Program
|
North Presentation Tent |
Bali Express Leads Cross-Border ZE Drayage: Replicable Lessons
|
South Presentation Tent | |
| 10:40 a.m. | CORE: Incentives for Off-Road Equipment
|
North Presentation Tent |
| 11:00 a.m. | Port to Pavement Panel: Real-World Insights on ZEV Adoption
|
North Presentation Tent |
ZEV Workforce Panel
|
South Presentation Tent | |
| Noon | Complimentary Lunch | Catering Tent |
| 1:00 p.m. | Drive Forward Town Hall
|
North Presentation Tent |
Helix Water Infrastructure Project
|
South Presentation Tent | |
| 1:35 p.m. | Clean Truck Check
|
North Presentation Tent |
Carl Moyer Program: SDAPCD
|
South Presentation Tent | |
| 1:50 p.m. | Zero‑Emission Forklifts: Compliance, Technology, and Flexibility for Public Fleets
|
North Presentation Tent |
| 2:00 p.m. | Advanced Clean Fleets for State and Local Government Fleets
|
North Presentation Tent |
| 2:20 p.m. | Government Fleets on the Road to Zero-Emissions Panel
|
North Presentation Tent |
California Clean Construction + Clean Fleet Connect
|
South Presentation Tent | |
| 3:00 p.m. | Zero-Emissions Showcase + Ride & Drive Closes | Showcase & Driving Course |
PRESENTATION DETAILS
Drive Forward Introduction
Learn about the Drive Forward initiative which continues California’s commitment to meeting both state and national air quality standards, achieving climate and clean air goals, and protecting public health through strong vehicle standards. Drive Forward advances this work by supporting the potential development of light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicle regulations, incentive programs, outreach and education, and complementary programs and policies that enable clean vehicle deployment.
Caltrans: Truck Parking & MD/HD ZEV Charging Infrastructure Development
Caltrans will highlight major efforts underway to support fleets moving to zero‑emission trucks across the region. The presentation will cover recent studies and planning work focused on expanding truck parking, charging infrastructure, and corridor readiness. Attendees will learn about ongoing initiatives to improve heavy‑duty ZEV operations in Southern California
Cal Fleet Advisor: ZEV Myths Uncovered
Based on conversations with thousands of California fleets, Cal Fleet Advisor will present on common misconceptions about medium- and heavy-duty zero-emissions vehicles and provide real-world examples of successful ZEV deployments in relevant situations
HVIP: Incentives for Clean Trucks and Buses
Unlock the future of clean transportation with the California Clean Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP). This dynamic initiative offers substantial financial incentives to help you upgrade to zero-emissions trucks and buses, cut costs, and reduce your environmental footprint. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn how you can drive innovation and sustainability in your fleet.
Infrastructure Panel: SDGE & Port of San Diego
This panel will focus on the programs that support and facilitate zero‑emission infrastructure projects. Panelists will highlight utility transportation electrification support services, permit streamlining, funding opportunities, and how to find public chargers both in operation and under development. Panelists will discuss how fleets can access incentives and leverage technology to reduce costs, and share insights on navigating timelines, applications, and other requirements.
Panelists:
Anthony Aguirre, Project Manager, San Diego Gas & Electric
Phil Gibbons, Deputy Director of Climate and Sustainability, Port of San Diego
Elsa Wright, ZEV Market Development Specialist, Go-Biz
Sebastian Serrato, Air Pollution Specialist, California Energy Commission
Innovative Small e-Fleet Pilot Program
Learn about the Innovative Small e-Fleet (ISEF) Pilot Program, California’s game-changing initiative designed to electrify the trucking industry. ISEF offers small fleets the option to request increased vouchers for innovative solutions such as all-inclusive leases, peer-to-peer truck sharing, truck-as-a-service, and individual owner planning assistance. By providing funding, technical assistance, and valuable resources, it empowers fleet operators to embrace cutting-edge electric technologies while reducing operating costs and environmental impact.
Bali Express Leads Cross-Border ZE Drayage: Replicable Lessons
This fleet led session shares Bali Express’ real world battery‑electric drayage model from the Otay Mesa corridor, including 3–4 trips per charge, overnight depot charging at roughly $0.18/kWh, and operating costs about 30% lower than diesel. SDG&E will outline its role in enabling site design, managed charging, interconnection, and incentive stacking. Attendees will leave with practical, repeatable steps for launching cross‑border ZE drayage—lane selection, charge scheduling, paperwork and insurance flow—and key pitfalls to avoid.
CORE Funding and Participation
Get up to speed on the Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project (CORE) offering financial incentives to California off-road equipment users. Learn about available funding opportunities, the impact of CORE on advancing zero-emissions technology, and how you can be a part of this initiative. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable information and network with industry leaders.
Port to Pavement Panel: Real-World Insights on ZEV Adoption
Join representatives from the Port of San Diego, Harbor Trucking Association, Forum Mobility, and Skycharger for a conversation on the evolving landscape of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) in drayage and fleet operations. This panel will explore the real-world challenges and opportunities facing fleets as they begin or continue their journey to adopt ZEVs. Topics will include the effectiveness of current initiatives and incentives, infrastructure readiness, and the practical realities of fleet composition and deployment. Whether you’re a fleet operator, policymaker, or industry stakeholder, this session offers valuable insights into what it takes to move goods cleanly and efficiently in California’s ports.
Panelists:
Phil Gibbons, Deputy Director of Climate and Sustainability, Port of San Diego
Matt Schrap, Chief Commercial Officer, Forum Mobility
John Friedrich, Chief Development Officer, Skycharger
ZEV Workforce Panel
The panel will broadly discuss elements of the zero-emission vehicle and high-voltage workforce ecosystem, including manufacturing and innovation, vehicle service and maintenance, fleet operations, charging and infrastructure, and community benefits tied to ZEV workforce growth and ZEV adoption.
Panelists:
Omar Sevilla, Automotive Instructor, John Madison High School
Jarrett Valdez, Zero-Emission Bus and Sustainability Manager
Rob Del Core, Founder and CEO, GreeNumerix Technologies
Rick Halperin, Co-Founder Native Energy Services Company and Veteran Energy Services Company
Drive Forward Townhall
The Drive Forward initiative continues California’s commitment to meeting both state and national air quality standards, achieving climate and clean air goals, and protecting public health through strong vehicle standards. Drive Forward advances this work by supporting the potential development of light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicle regulations, incentive programs, outreach and education, and complementary programs and policies that enable clean vehicle deployment. Join this town-hall style session to provide input on feedback on the direction of future clean air programs. Get involved. Your voice matters.
Helix Water Infrastructure Project
Helix Water District transformed its operations center in San Diego’s easy county suburbs into one of California’s most advanced electric fleet charging hubs. This presentation will provide an inside look project, including the size and scale of the site, key design and construction considerations, equipment selected to support long‑term zero‑emission operations, and the project’s importance for surrounding government fleets. Attendees will gain practical insights into planning, building, and operating a complex facility.
Clean Truck Check
Learn about the Clean Truck Check program, which combines periodic vehicle testing with other emissions monitoring techniques to identify vehicles in need of emission-related repairs and ensure any needed repairs are performed. The program provides significant reductions in smog-forming and carcinogenic toxic air pollution necessary to achieve federal air quality mandates and healthy air in California’s communities.
Zero‑Emission Forklifts: Compliance, Technology, and Flexibility for Public Fleets
State and local government fleets operating Class IV and V large‑spark‑ignition (LSI) forklifts are subject to California’s Zero‑Emission Forklift regulation. The regulation phases out the use of LSI forklifts and contains provisions for new LSI forklift purchases, accelerating the deployment of proven zero‑emission alternatives such as battery‑electric and fuel‑cell forklifts. The types of zero-emission technologies available in the Off-Road Sector are gradually increasing, with the potential for greater emissions reductions as adoption increases. To help encourage this, the 2022 Amendments to the Off-Road Diesel-Fueled Fleets Regulation included provisions to promote adoption of zero-emission equipment in exchange for additional flexibility. Learn more about these two programs in this session.
Advanced Clean Fleets for State and Local Government Fleets
Join us for a presentation about the Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulation, one of the latest developments in CARB’s decades-long history of setting increasingly stringent emission standards for mobile sources that are needed to protect the public health and welfare of Californians. The ACF regulation has state and local government fleets reduce emissions by phasing in the use of ZEVs.
Government Fleets on the Road to Zero-Emissions Panel
This panel will bring together representatives from government agencies to discuss how they have incorporated zero-emission vehicles into their fleets. Panelists will share firsthand experiences of how they approached planning, infrastructure buildout, vehicle selection, workforce development, along with lessons learned through their fleet deployments of zero-emission vehicles. While the panel features government fleets, the information and real-world insight shared will benefit any fleet wanting to learn more about the switch to zero-emissions. All Ride & Drive attendees are encouraged to attend.
Panelists:
Bradley Northup, Public Works Superintendent – Fleet Operations, City of Carlsbad
Joe Garuba, Facilities Manager, Helix Water District
David Fernandez, Chief – Departmental Operations Fleet Services, County of San Diego
April Bolduc, President, S Curve Strategies representing San Diego Unified School District
California Clean Construction + Clean Fleet Connect
This session will feature presentation on two statewide voluntary programs supporting zero-emission vehicle and equipment adoption. The California Clean Construction program recognizes construction projects and companies that choose cleaner, more environmentally responsible construction practices. The Clean Fleet Connect program recognizes fleets using medium- and heavy-duty ZEVs in California. It is intended to highlight ZEV fleets and create connections for environmentally conscious businesses. Join this session to learn how to participate in these programs.
ZERO-EMISSIONS SHOWCASE + RIDE & DRIVE
