Reuben Sarkar, Dept. Asst. Sec. for Transportation at US DOE to give Green Truck Summit keynote

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI — Reuben Sarkar, deputy assistant secretary for transportation at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), will serve as keynote speaker at the 2016 Green Truck Summit on Tuesday, March 1. Sarkar supervises the Sustainable Transportation area of the office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), which includes the Vehicle, Fuel Cell and Bioenergy Technologies offices. These offices are working on a wide range of technologies designed to make transportation cleaner and more efficient. His keynote address will offer insights based on his extensive experience in the field of clean energy vehicles.

The Green Truck Summit is the premier alternative fuels and advanced technology conference held annually in conjunction with The Work Truck Show. It kicks off March 1 at 8:30 a.m. with opening remarks followed by Sarkar’s keynote address at 8:45 a.m. General sessions then run from 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Lunch is included, and a reception caps off the event. Work Truck Show exhibits are open March 2–4.

As deputy assistant secretary for transportation, Sarkar oversees a $600 million budget dedicated to reducing the country’s oil dependence, avoiding pollution, and creating jobs by developing and manufacturing more energy efficient vehicles. These technologies are expected to provide greater freedom of mobility and energy security, while lowering costs and reducing impacts on the environment.

“We are fortunate to have Reuben Sarkar at The Work Truck Show as our keynote speaker this year,” said Doyle Sumrall, NTEA managing director. “He is very influential in the guidance and assistance the Department of Energy delivers to our industry. DOE provides the funding and, ultimately, the direction for many of the research programs that will help guide the future of technology, fuel savings and the reduction of greenhouse gases and other pollutants. Sarkar is one of the key people at DOE who have their hands on the steering wheel of where research and programs impacting the vocational truck industry are heading.”

Before joining EERE, Sarkar worked at Proterra Inc., a leading manufacturer of electric buses and fast charging stations. He directed several strategic initiatives, including electric vehicle market analysis and product planning. He also led engineering programs, such as overseeing fuel cell bus demonstration programs and the development of Proterra's first generation all-electric bus, the first electric bus to pass rigorous federal testing requirements.

Prior to this, Sarkar spent more than 10 years at General Motors, including as lead design release engineer on the electric drive unit for the Chevy Volt. He was responsible for the engineering execution from paper concept into production intent builds. He started his career at GM as a fuels and lubricants expert and held various roles in new transmission and hybrid system development and production launch programs. Sarkar earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering, as well as an MBA, from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

The Summit features content focused on productivity and efficiency for multi-stage commercial vehicles.

Following Sarkar’s address, Green Truck Summit attendees will participate in a variety of general sessions offering balanced perspectives from vocational truck and energy industry experts. Attendees can also choose from more than 35 Green Truck Summit and Work Truck Show concurrent sessions March 2–3. For a complete schedule of sessions, visit ntea.com/greentrucksummit.         

The Summit features content focused on productivity and efficiency for multi-stage commercial vehicles. Because it is held in conjunction with The Work Truck Show, it provides fleet managers, truck manufacturers, dealers, distributors and service providers additional opportunities outside of the educational conference. NTEA staff members are on-site at the Show to answer technical and regulatory questions, and attendees can talk to manufacturer representatives during test drives at The Work Truck Show Ride-and-Drive on Wednesday, March 2, and Thursday, March 3. Attendees can check out the newest clean-energy products in the Productivity and Fuels Pavilion on the 500,000-square-foot exhibit floor.  

Register for the Green Truck Summit and The Work Truck Show 2016 at worktruckshow.com. Learn more about the Summit by watching the video. Join the conversation on Facebook at facebook.com/TheWorkTruckShow and on Twitter at @WorkTruckShow with the official Green Truck Summit and Work Truck Show hashtags: #greentrucks16 and #worktrucks16.