OTTAWA -- May 26, 2021

BluWave-ai’s fourth installation in its Global Energy Transition Summit series presents leading experts and organizations in fleet electrification. With fleets around the world quickly onboarding electric vehicles (EVs) to displace diesel assets, the path to this reality is limited by several operational challenges. The electricity grid becomes the fuelling source for the EVs which need to be charged and deployed in the demanding context of real-world fleet schedules.

Double-digit growth of EVs for commercial use is already underway, bringing with it unprecedented demand from local distribution utilities. Fleet operators face significant operational challenges in integrating EVs into the fleet, with their radically different charging times compared to the quick gas-up-and-go and long range of internal combustion engines. Emerging intelligent energy management techniques are helping to mitigate the impact of costly and lengthy lead-time upgrades to the electric grid, to minimize the supplied cost of energy for fleet operators and optimize the use of renewable sources.  

At this Summit, Catherine McKenna, Canada’s Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, will offer opening remarks. “Better public transit, cleaner air, quieter streets, and a safer planet for our kids - that's the goal of our $2.75B investment in zero-emission buses across Canada,” comments Minister McKenna. “It’s critical that we maximize how these electric fleets are used to reduce emissions. We need to achieve greater outcomes through our new electric vehicle assets and companies like BluWave-ai help to make this possible.”

“We have ambitious goals at Alaska Airlines to be the most fuel-efficient U.S. airlines and to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040," said Diana Birkett Rakow, Vice President of Public Affairs & Sustainability, Alaska Airlines. “To get there, we must run our operation as efficiently as possible and ensure that climate responsibility is embedded in our culture and everything we do. We know it will also take good partners to help us electrify equipment and develop more sustainable technologies for our airline operations.”

"MV Transportation is helping transit agencies, airports, corporations and school systems across the US and Canada chart the optimal path to electrification that best serves their respective rider communities,” said Jim Haring, MV's Chief Information Officer.  “Operating a fleet of over 11,000 transit vehicles, we leverage the latest expertise, technology and data to develop safe, practical and sustainable alternative fuel and electric vehicle strategies.”

“Proterra serves public transit customers in communities across the continent. Our electric buses have become the most popular choice for public transportation, helping to move people safely, efficiently and comfortably with zero tailpipe emissions,” explains Alan Westenskow, Director of Business Development at Proterra. “With 18 million miles of experience on the road, Proterra’s proven battery and drivetrain technology is now also being deployed by other world-class vehicle manufacturers in high-floor luxury coach buses and school buses, as well as in the last-mile delivery and construction markets.”

“Area X.O is the futureplex of innovation and collaboration in Canada’s Capital that enables and accelerates the safe and secure development, testing, and application of future smart mobility, autonomy and connected technologies,” explains Sonya Shorey, VP of Strategy, Marketing and Communications, Area X.O operated by Invest Ottawa. “The convergence of these technologies creates immense opportunity in smart mobility, 5G and transport electrification. Combining diverse expertise with Ottawa's telecom and cybersecurity strengths as a global tech hub, Area X.O helps startups, SMEs, multinationals, and governments drive breakthrough innovation in these and many other sectors.”

“Electricity demands for commercial and municipal fleet charging will put considerable pressure on electricity distribution systems not inherently designed for this,” comments Laurie Heuff, Director, Distribution Engineering and Asset Management, Hydro Ottawa. “As transportation operators start using their electric company as their gas station, utilities will be challenged to meet the high demand. We need to begin looking at various solutions to smooth energy peaks, including data-driven ones that interact with customers and their assets.”

BluWave-ai CEO and Founder, Devashish Paul, will moderate the panel and share the company’s expertise in the orchestration of system-wide EV fleet electrification using real-time, cloud-based AI solutions, to optimize energy expenditures and fleet efficiency around the clock.

This free online summit is co-hosted by BluWave-ai and Invest Ottawa. For tickets, visit the Eventbrite site.

About Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines and its regional partners serve more than 120 destinations across the United States and to Mexico, Canada and Costa Rica. The airline emphasizes Next-Level Care for its guests, along with providing low fares, award-winning customer service and sustainability efforts. On March 31, 2021, Alaska became the 14th member of oneworld. With the global alliance and Alaska Airlines' additional partners, guests can travel to more than 1,000 destinations on more than 20 airlines while earning and redeeming miles on flights to locations around the world. Learn more about Alaska at newsroom.alaskaair.com and blog.alaskaair.com. Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK).  

About MV Transportation

MV is the largest privately owned passenger transportation contracting services firm in North America and a leader in providing the specialized on-demand ADA-compliant transportation of persons with disabilities and the elderly. We provide paratransit, fixed-route, public and private shuttle, and student transportation services, partnering with over 200 city and county government transit agencies, school districts, universities, airports and corporations.  Founded in 1975, MV provides freedom for over 110 million passengers each year across 28 states and Canada with a team of more than 20,000 dedicated transit professionals. For additional information, please visit http://www.mvtransit.com.  

About Proterra

Proterra is a leader in the design and manufacture of zero-emission electric transit vehicles and EV technology solutions for commercial applications. With industry-leading durability and energy efficiency based on rigorous U.S. independent testing, Proterra products are proudly designed, engineered and manufactured in America, with offices in Silicon Valley, South Carolina, and Los Angeles. For more information, visit: http://www.proterra.com and follow us on Twitter @Proterra_Inc.  

About Area X.O

Area X.O is the futureplex of innovation and collaboration in Canada's Capital that enables and accelerates the safe and secure development, testing, and application of next generation technologies. It fuels the creation, commercialization, and adoption of breakthrough innovations in mobility, autonomy and connectivity that benefit our community, economy, and environment. These applications span telecom; smart agriculture; defence, security, and public safety; unmanned aerial vehicles; and smart cities. Established and managed by Invest Ottawa, Area X.O leverages critical support from world-class founding partners. These include: the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, the City of Ottawa, Accenture, BlackBerry QNX, Ericsson, Microsoft, Nokia, and Ottawa's post-secondary institutions. For additional information, please visit:  https://areaxo.com.

About Hydro Ottawa

Hydro Ottawa delivers electricity to more than 340,000 homes and businesses in Ottawa and Casselman. For over 100 years, Hydro Ottawa has reliably supplied its customers with power, building and investing in the local electric grid. Proudly municipally owned, Hydro Ottawa contributes to the well-being of the community we serve. Its innovative services help customers manage their account and energy use. https://hydroottawa.com/en  

About BluWave-ai

BluWave-ai is supporting the global energy transition with technologies that enable the widespread adoption of renewable energy generation, smart grids and vehicle electrification. Our AI-enabled software-as-a-solution gathers data from smart grids and electric vehicle (EV) fleet operations, generates intelligent predictions of variables such as loads, wind and solar energy production, EV charging demands, and battery state of charge, to deliver real-time optimization recommendations. The benefits include a reduction in net energy costs, a better return on investment in existing hardware (rooftop solar, battery storage, EVs, etc.), increased use of renewables in the energy mix, and reductions in carbon footprint.

For more information please contact:

Marlene Alt
Senior Corporate Marketing ManagerBluWave-ai Email: [email protected] Phone: +1 613-608-0116

BluWave-ai Drives AI for Electrification of Transport

GLOBAL ENERGY TRANSITION SUMMIT SERIES