AFVi Awards
AFVi 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.
2010 Award Winners
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24/7 Blend Award Robert White, Director of Market Development for the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), accepted the award for his leadership in industry-wide education about social media. Mr. White has excelled in generating interest in alternative energy among new demographic groups. Under his leadership, RFA and other fuel advocacy groups were awarded a $1.6 million U.S. Department of Energy grant to provide training that includes social media for national Clean Cities Coalitions and their stakeholders. Mr. White was awarded the 24/7 Blend Award for his dogged determination and leadership in delivering the alternative fuel story. |
| EV-angelism Award Electric vehicles (EV) have enjoyed a meteoric rise of late, but the prize for EV momentum goes to Chrysler Group Global Electric Motorcars (GEM). GEM product first hit the roads twelve years ago. The Fargo, North Dakota based manufacturer is known for versatility and innovation – two reasons why there are over 40,000 of their neighborhood electric vehicles on the roads worldwide. Their six available models can be seen everywhere from cities and universities to master planned communities. The EV-angelism Award was presented to President and COO Rick Kasper for his early and lasting success in manufacturing electric vehicles. |
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Golden Bullet Award When the U.S. Department of Energy Clean Cities Program announced 25 awards totaling $300 million in federal funding last fall, it was an unprecedented victory for an industry familiar with challenges. The recipients of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds will add 9,000 vehicles and more than 500 refueling stations by the time the projects are completed. The Golden Bullet Award was presented to National Clean Cities Director Dennis Smith for his leadership in overseeing the process that will profoundly impact the alternative fuels market. |
| Green Fleet Award When AT&T reaches out and touches someone, they don’t mess around. In 2009 the communications giant touched the alternative fuels industry in a big way by announcing the replacement of 15,000 vehicles over the next ten years with alternatively fueled and powered models. Their actions will displace 2.5 million barrels of oil, reduce carbon output by 211,000 metric tons, and will create or save 5,500 jobs. The Green Fleet Award was presented to Jerome Webber, Vice President of Fleet Operations as the chief strategist behind this bold new direction. |
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Lifetime Achievement Award As the President of his government relations consulting firm and Director of Government Affairs for NGV America, Paul Kerkhoven received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his tireless advocacy of natural gas. Mr. Kerkhoven’s efforts aren’t limited to one fuel. He is highly regarded industry-wide for educating fleet managers, policy makers, and Clean Cities Coordinators about federal funding and incentives. Mike Gallagher, Westport Innovations Senior Adviser said it best. “There is no one who has labored longer or smarter to bring about the new, forward thinking legislation to help build our new alt fuel industry.” |
| Magic School Bus Award Twenty-four million American children ride school buses each day that travel more than 4 billion miles each year. Diesel pollution from older buses is a widely acknowledged problem and Napa Valley Unified School District Transportation Director Ralph Knight is a widely heralded solution. In 1997, Knight’s alternative energy enthusiasm was launched when he got an electric school bus and his is the only district in the nation still running true electric buses. Over 15 years he replaced all of the old diesel buses, and he has the first and only plug-in hybrid school bus in California. Knight, the recipient of the Magic School Bus Award, is a one man tour de force PR machine as he advocates for clean transportation for school children. |
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There’s a Ford In Your Future Award The mettle of auto manufacturers has been tested recently in ways once thought unimaginable. Ford Motor Company, though, is ascending, having just posted net income of $2.1 billion in the first quarter fueled by a 32% rise in U.S. sales. In true “One Ford” fashion, the Ford Fleet Team is driving America through its fleet business with the company’s full line of alternative fuel power trains and advanced technologies. That’s why AFVi borrowed their prophetic slogan from the 1940’s. “There’s a Ford in Your Future” Award was presented to Fleet Marketing Manager Gerald Koss, part of the team whose steady, relentless focus and strong leadership has riveted international attention. |
| Whipple’s Peak Award Tom Whipple was a CIA analyst for 30 years. Upon retirement he turned his attention to the looming problems facing the world as oil supplies dwindle. For thirteen years he has devoted his time to researching and writing about the issues surrounding peak oil. His writing is carried in daily and weekly publications for the Association for the Study of Peak Oil & Gas - USA and in the Falls Church News-Press. His clearly conveyed storytelling is all the more compelling because of his immense passion. Tom Whipple accepted AFVi’s first Whipple’s Peak Award. |
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2009 Award Winners
20/20 Vision Award
Mario Cordero (photo center), immediate Past President of the Port of Long Beach, CA, and
S. David Freeman (photo right), President, of the Port of Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners, accepted the award for their cooperative leadership, strength of purpose, and powerful vision, in shaping landmark policy through their combined San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP). The award was presented by Annalloyd Thomason, Executive Director, AFVi (photo left), along with Kimberly Taylor, Director of Education and Business Programs, AFVi (photo center). Under the plan, the fifth largest seaport complex in the world is now working with drayage truck owners to replace old trucks that can cut truck related air pollution by 80% by 2012. The plan, at times highly contentious, is a bellwether for other ports worldwide seeking trade growth that runs parallel with environmental stewardship.
Golden Bullet Award
Joe Jobe (photo right) is the tour de force unifier behind the national effort to bring the biodiesel industry together to advance the use of biodiesel in our nation’s fleets. For twelve years he has blended his searing intelligence, political savvy, personal style, and endless passion to elevate the National Biodiesel Board, and subsequently the industry. Not one to shy from conflict, Mr. Jobe faces head-on would be foes from the Grocery Manufacturers Association to those embracing what he calls “junk science.” With biodiesel production projected to increase to one billion gallons by 2012, Joe Jobe remains the Golden Bullet for the industry.
Green Fleet Award
When the San Pedro Bay Ports crafted a clean air policy, Victor La Rosa (photo right), President of Total Transportation Services, Inc. (TTSI), was the first in line with alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) to operate in full-time drayage service at the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. TTSI has invested $15 million in LNG trucks and plans to replace half of its 300-truck fleet with AFVs. Mr. La Rosa appreciates the business case, but equally compelling is a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 20% and a 75% NOX reduction compared to the diesel vehicles being replaced. “We all have a responsibility to protect the environment,” said Mr. La Rosa.
Green Giant Award
T. Boone Pickens (photo right) once said, “A fool with a plan can outsmart a genius with no plan.” Less than one year ago, he set out to show what a genius with a plan can do. In July of last year, the octogenarian proved that age is no barrier when it comes to remaking yourself, by launching the “Pickens Plan.” He has mastered political communication using a social networking campaign that has attracted 1.4 million supporters organized around wind, solar and natural gas. AFVi awards Mr. Pickens the Green Giant Award for focusing national attention on natural gas for transportation as a key tenet in lessening U.S. dependence on foreign oil.
Invention and Innovation Award (Heavy-Duty)
Vancouver based Westport Innovations is a leading developer of advanced engines that run on natural gas and other gaseous fuels. Michael Gallagher (photo right) joined the company in 2003, after working for pre-eminent firms like Bechtel Group and Fluor Corporation. As President and COO, Dr. Gallagher’s commitment to the development of alternative energy and environmental cleanup technologies is paying off. His tireless work with customers, industry partners and policy makers has given alternative fuel vehicles using Westport engines a competitive advantage in the truck market. Today, even in a tough market, the innovative engine manufacturer is realizing significant sales, growing demand and general market acceptance globally for natural gas as a clean alternative to petroleum.
Invention and Innovation Award (Light-Duty)
The Toyota Prius entered the U.S. marketplace in 2001 and changed the makeup of the world’s fleet of vehicles. Like all good new ideas, it met internal resistance early on, only to pay off as a top seller in the U.S. market. The Prius is sold in more than 40 countries and regions and, since it was first introduced in the United States, more than 1.2 million Prius have been sold worldwide. With the launch of the 2010 Prius, which gets 50 MPG and is among the cleanest vehicles sold in the United States, Toyota plans to introduce ten new hybrid models globally by 2012. In an evolving new vehicle market, Toyota has set the bar for eco-supremacy. Accepting the award was Ed Larocque (photo right), National Manager of Advanced Technology Vehicles from Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc.
Oxygen Award
School districts across the country have found an affordable and environmentally friendly school bus option in the Blue Bird VISION. The Vision is the first full-size, dedicated propane-powered school bus to be offered by a major manufacturer in the United States since 2002. Dangerous exhaust from school bus tailpipes can be significantly reduced by using alternative fuels, like propane. Blue Bird has invested in a bus that reduces NOx, CO, particulate matter and VOC emissions by as much as 83%-99%. Rusty Mitchell (photo right), Product Management Director, accepted the award saying, “This is a solution to go green and a means to reduce fuel costs for school districts.”
Prescient Pioneer Award
Mike Scarpino (photo right) worked for twelve years as a nuclear engineer before accepting a position in 1997 with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities Program. The program facilitates the work of 90 coalitions located in cities throughout the country to assist public and private fleets as they transition to alternative fuels. For twelve years Mike has been on hand to assist the national program and local coalitions as they’ve weathered budget threats, low gasoline prices, and erratic incentives. Through it all, his seasoned eye has been on the power of communities working together to create a new, clean way to fuel America’s vehicle fleets. His leadership, humor, and intelligence have played a crucial part in the strength of the national program.
