PRESS RELEASE

PRESS RELEASE

The Long Road to Decarbonization: Insights from FleetZero’s Toronto Climate Week Fireside Chat

October 7, 2025

At Toronto Climate Week, FleetZero hosted an intimate fireside chat that brought together decades of wisdom, lived experience, and optimism about the future of clean transportation. The conversation—led by FleetZero’s co-founder Naeem Farooqi and long-time transit veteran and Maintenance and Training Lead Rick—explored the “long road to decarbonization,” charting a path from diesel to electric and beyond.

Toronto: A Hub for Climate Innovation

FleetZero’s new office served as the perfect backdrop for the discussion. As Naeem noted, Toronto is quickly becoming “an epicenter of climate technology research and startup innovation.”
FleetZero itself has grown from its early days—“founded in a forest and brought into the urban jungle,” as Naeem quipped—to an organization representing Canada on the global stage. The team recently joined the G20 Young Entrepreneurs Alliance in South Africa, showcasing Canadian leadership in climate action and sustainable mobility.

Lessons from a Lifetime in Transit

Rick, who spent more than five decades working with the City of Burlington’s transportation department, brought historical perspective to the decarbonization conversation.
He described a career that spanned from smoky two-stroke diesel buses to early experiments with compressed natural gas (CNG) and propane fleets. Each transition brought technical and financial challenges—but also real progress.

“We ran buses on propane and natural gas back in the 90s. It wasn’t easy,” Rick recalled. “Parts were hard to find, maintenance was high, but it was worth it. You can’t decarbonize without spending money—and without training people.”

That emphasis on people—training, retraining, and evolving—was a recurring theme. Today’s transportation workforce needs to understand high-voltage systems, battery diagnostics, and data-driven maintenance, not just wrenches and brake pads.

From Diesel to Data: Naeem’s Journey into Sustainable Transit

Naeem’s path to FleetZero began at Metrolinx, where he saw firsthand the cost and complexity of vehicle emission regulations. Each new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standard, he explained, added layers of after-treatment and maintenance costs to internal combustion engines.

Later, working across government, supply chain, and consulting, Naeem helped develop FleetZero’s six-chapter electrification playbook—a framework adaptable to global contexts. “Everywhere you go, the playbook is the same,” he said, “but the length of each chapter changes depending on geography—power stability, labor, and local culture.”

Global Stories from the Frontlines of Decarbonization

FleetZero’s global projects highlight the challenges and creativity required to make electrification work across different realities.

• In Lima, Peru, Naeem introduced the country’s first electric bus under a UN project. Local customs and culture alter the diligence process for selecting operators.
• In Ivory Coast, an overseas-funded Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project revealed deeper systemic issues. Hundreds of overseas buses often sat cannibalized for parts because the local agencies lacked the capacity to maintain them.
  FleetZero’s lesson? Technology must fit the context. Simplified, durable systems often work better than advanced, maintenance-heavy imports.
• In China, Naeem and colleague Adam marveled at how rapidly infrastructure can evolve.
  “They built a high-speed rail network the size of Quebec in 20 years,” Naeem said. “Meanwhile, we debate building one from Toronto to Windsor for the same amount of time.”

These anecdotes underscored a core point: decarbonization isn’t just about technology—it’s about systems thinking, humility, and cultural adaptation.

The Human Side of Change

Rick’s reflections grounded the talk in everyday behavior.
He pointed out that decarbonization isn’t limited to buses and fleets—it extends to homes, gardens, and lifestyles.

“I’m on my second generation of electric lawnmowers,” he said proudly. “All my garden tools are battery-powered, and everything is organic. We have to decarbonize how we live, not just how we drive.”

That mindset—personal responsibility paired with institutional innovation—frames the path forward. Both speakers agreed that real change requires rethinking mobility, from carpooling and public transit to walking and micro-mobility.

Freedom, they suggested, may no longer mean owning a gas car—it may mean having access to clean, efficient ways to move.

Looking Ahead: Canada’s Decarbonization Journey

While countries like China and regions in Europe have advanced low and zero emission mobility at scale, Canada’s approach, Naeem and Rick agreed, must be deliberate, inclusive, and rooted in its unique geography and economy.
FleetZero’s mission—to be a turnkey partner for fleet decarbonization—bridges that need, supporting governments, transit agencies, and private operators as they transition toward net-zero fleets.

As Naeem concluded, “You don’t have to reinvent the wheel—you just need to start the motion.”

Key Takeaways

• Technology isn’t new—commitment is. Electric vehicles have existed for over a century; sustained investment is what makes them succeed.
• Human capital is critical. Mechanics, drivers, and planners all need training to adapt to cleaner technologies.
• Context matters. What works in Shanghai may not work in Abuja; the solution must fit the ecosystem.
• Decarbonization is a mindset. It extends beyond vehicles to how we live, work, and consume energy.

Closing Thoughts

FleetZero’s fireside chat was more than a conversation—it was a reminder that the journey to zero emissions is both technical and human. It’s a story of persistence, innovation, and the courage to rethink the familiar. The fireside chat was introduced by an overview of Toronto’s decarbonization moment by its co-founder and COO Sherena Hussain and followed by mini workshops on safety equipment and emission modelling. Attendees were also invited to participate in FleetZero’s upcoming podcast, Behind the Fleet.

For FleetZero, Toronto Climate Week provided the stage, but the message resonated far beyond:
Decarbonization isn’t a distant goal—it’s a daily choice, a global collaboration, and a shared responsibility.

About FleetZero

FleetZero offers advisory services and turnkey solutions to enable fleet, capital, facility and other transition users navigate low carbon pathways, ranging from feasibility studies to developing maintenance policies and standard operating procedures. FleetZero serves as a trusted advisor to navigate the entire transition journey within cost, scheduling and duty-cycles expectations by leveraging its team of global fleet and infrastructure expertise, deep ecosystem networks, and scalable, AI-enhanced technology solutions. It also offers tangible solutions to keep everyone safe with the adoption of high voltage systems, such as insulated tooling, protective equipment and training.

FleetZero is a proud Canadian company and Certified Diverse Supplier by the Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council. It is also an approved supplier for Fleet Management Services by the Canoe Procurement Group of Canada and Fleet Electrification by the Sourcewell Procurement Group.

Contact:

FleetZero info@fleetzero.ai