EV Breakfast Series #3 - Fleets First: Making the Transition

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Hear from three companies as they each share their journeys to transitioning their fleets. Each company will have chosen a different technology to transition their fleets to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs)—hydrogen fuel cells, renewable natural gas, or electricity.

Presentations will highlight:

• Understanding where companies are in their fleet transition journeys
• How they arrived at their technology of choice, and the trade-offs considered
• Underscoring the challenges and opportunities of fleet transitions​
• Identifying the components that are required to enable the transition (i.e. electric supply upgrades, new fuelling stations)

Speakers:

• Joey Cyples, RNG Specialist, Enbridge
• Rymal Smith, Owner/Partner & CTO, Ch2nge Energy
• Crystal Rasa, Fulfillment Sourcing Manager, IKEA Canada

Moderator:

• Carolyn Kim, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, UPS Canada

Joey Cyples, RNG Specialist, Enbridge

Joey Cyples is a Chartered Professional Accountant and has worked for Enbridge for ten years. He has held several positions at Enbridge in Finance, Audit, and Business Development. He advocates for sustainable energy solutions, specializing in alternative fuels like CNG, LNG, RNG, and hydrogen for medium and heavy-duty fleets. At the forefront of reducing carbon emissions, his role involves guiding clients through business case analysis, fuel procurement, and providing tailored solutions.

Before joining Enbridge, Joey was the Financial Controller for St. Clair Technologies Inc. He is married with two children and is the Transit Committee Chair at the Canadian Natural Gas Vehicle Alliance.

Rymal Smith, Owner/Partner & CTO, Ch2nge Energy

As Partner/Owner of Change Energy Services Inc, Ry Smith brings over 30 years of comprehensive expertise in projects developing and implementing CNG, LNG, and H₂ fuelling opportunities and solutions.

With practical knowledge and experience garnered from over 150 High Pressure Gas Vehicle refuelling station projects around the world, he is familiar with all factors and requirements that come into play to provide value driven alternative vehicle refuelling and integrated energy networks.

Mr. Smith was responsible for the design, engineering and project management of many of the earliest NGV and H₂ vehicle refuelling stations, and is the recipient of NRCan’s Michael Grant Technology Award for advancements in CNG station design. Ry’s experience also includes 5 years as the Director of the Federal/Provincial government “Hydrogen Village” demonstration Program. Ry has developed detailed modeling tools for the technoeconomic assessment of alternative fuel production, delivery, and end-use infrastructure ranging from the national scale down to individual stations.

Mr. Smith is Chair of CSA’s Transportation Strategic Steering Committee (Covering CSA’s suite of Codes and Standards for all alternative transportation fuels), and is also the Chair of the Technical Committee for Canada’s National Natural Gas Fuelling Stations Installation Code (CSA B108).  Ry is the recipient of the 2020 CSA Award of Merit.

Crystal Rasa, Fulfillment Sourcing Manager, IKEA Canada

Crystal Rasa has over 20 years of procurement and supply chain experience that began in the interior design and hospitality industries. Her passion for procurement and the supply chain began while obtaining her Bachelor of Design degree and led to her earning a Certified Supply Chain Management Professional (CSCMP) accreditation. Since joining IKEA Canada in 2019 as Customer Fulfilment Sourcing Manager, Crystal has expanded her focus to include sustainable and zero-emission transport practices and she is supporting the organization achieve its goal of achieving zero emissions from home deliveries by 2025. IKEA Canada, together with its Service Provider Partners, commenced the first deliveries with electric vehicles in December 2021. Currently, Crystal is managing a portfolio of Final Mile and Parcel delivery service contracts with coast-to-coast coverage.

Carolyn Kim, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, UPS Canada

Carolyn is Vice President of Corporate Affairs at UPS, and oversees government relations, communications, and community relations activities for UPS in Canada. Bringing 15 years of public policy and transportation planning experience to the role, Carolyn leads UPS’ policy positions related to supply chain continuity, international trade and customs, transportation and sustainability, and labour and employment.

Before joining UPS, Carolyn was a Senior Director at the Pembina Institute, overseeing sustainability issues such as clean transportation, energy efficiency in buildings, and workforce planning in the energy sector.

All three speakers will engage in a discussion to unpack insights from their presentations and discuss shared benefits, opportunities, and challenges.

Series Sponsor Remarks:

• Aaron Silver, Manager, Climate Action Transportation Initiatives, Toronto Hydro

Closing Remarks:

• Giles Gherson, President & CEO, Toronto Region Board of Trade

Aaron Silver, Manager, Climate Action Transportation Initiatives, Toronto Hydro

Aaron Silver brings over a decade of experience in Canada’s public policy and energy sector to his role as Manager of Climate Action Transportation Initiatives. He is focused on ensuring a positive experience for customers electrifying their transportation infrastructure. Prior to joining the Climate Action Team, Aaron held the position of Large Customer and Key Accounts Consultant. In this role, he was responsible for building and maintaining relationships with large customers, including the City of Toronto and various large property developers. Before joining Toronto Hydro, Aaron worked in the Office of the Minister of Natural Resources Canada, the Senate of Canada and the Office of the Ontario Minister of Energy, where he held various leadership roles focused on matters related to energy and mining, issues management and public policy. Aaron holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Calgary.

Giles Gherson, President & CEO, Toronto Region Board of Trade

Giles Gherson is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Toronto Region Board of Trade, one of the largest and most influential business organizations in North America. Giles leads the Board’s efforts to advocate on behalf of our members and enhance the business competitiveness of our Region. He is charged with leading the implementation of the Board’s new strategic plan to renew our mission as a catalyst for a vibrant, globally competitive Toronto Region business community. 

Prior to joining the Board in 2022, Giles spent over 25 years in the private and public sector in progressively senior roles. He spent 15 years with the Province of Ontario, where he held multiple influential Deputy Minister roles – most extensively and recently as Deputy Minister, Economic Development. Previously, Giles has led the government’s economic growth and competitiveness policy, overseen the recent creation of two new agencies, Invest Ontario and IP Ontario, and worked to attract a wave of technology and manufacturing investments, including the retooling of the province’s auto sector for next generation battery electric vehicles. He currently sits on Ontario’s Advanced Manufacturing Council, working to boost the long-term competitiveness and resilience of this sector by attracting key investments and creating opportunities for businesses across the province.

Prior to his role in government, Giles worked as editor-in-chief of the Toronto Star, political editor of the National Post and editor of the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business. Giles is the immediate past President of the Board of Directors at the Institute of Public Administration of Canada, the country’s leading professional organization supporting excellence in the public sector.