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LACI Welcomes 34 Startups & Businesses to their Founder Programs

LACI PROUDLY WELCOMES 34 STARTUPS & SMALL BUSINESSES TO THEIR SUITE OF INCUBATION & FOUNDER PROGRAMS

Throughout the Summer and Fall of 2022, Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) welcomed 9 startups innovating clean technologies to our light-touch Innovators Program,  9 startups to our 2-year intensive Incubation Program, and 1 company deploying a larger scale impact-focused pilot to our Market Access Program. Beyond the lens of cleantech we also opened our doors to a Cohort of 15 entrepreneurs joining our Founders Business Accelerator Program. These small business founders  have cared for our local communities through their offerings in dining, entertainment, health and wellness services, and so much more.

LACI’s annual Market Landscape Report, analyzes the market and various sectors to identify top priorities in accelerating the commercialization of cleantech and reductions in real and perceived barriers to adoption. Guided by this intelligence, LACI’s recruitment efforts are focused on Zero Emissions Transportation, Clean Energy, and Sustainable Cities. As a result,  we are better able to identify and support startup businesses incubating these technologies and help them develop, test, pilot and bring these key offerings to market and thereby promote environmental, health, and economic opportunities and benefits for communities throughout our market and across the nation.

LACI’s Market Access report identifies three core areas of cleantech from which we recruit and develop founders innovating solutions in these sectors.

We’re eager to advance incoming startups like Veloce Energy that are providing modular energy storage, installation systems, and integration software to electrify everything from vehicles, commercial buildings, and homes. And others like LACI’s Market Access portfolio company Microgrid Labs that makes it easier for medium and heavy duty electric vehicle fleet operators to perform assessments and aggregate electrification plans with their creative platform management solution. We’re also excited for Coralite to demonstrate their waste reduction solution for recycling foam into various applications throughout the automotive & construction industries.

We encourage circularity and help our startup and small business participants focus on impactful outcomes through a progression of programs that help founders scale their businesses and develop proprietary technologies as they advance through these programs. We also provide guidance to help our portfolio companies pivot when new opportunities arise. Take Shred Cycle for example, who participated in our 6-month Founders Business Accelerator Program (FBA). When Shred Cycle’s founder realized her original passion project of recycling skateboard wheels could better serve her mission and the community with an entirely new business model of upcycling polyurethane waste, thereby reducing the impact that industry has on the City of Los Angeles, aided by her Executive In Residence, she made the shift with great success. Companies like those in our FBA Cohort 7, some of who have been in business for 2 years while others are regarded as community legends with operating history of some 20 years, will re-imagine and re-invigorate their businesses and the communities they serve by focusing on sustainable and environmentally conscious business practices that create new jobs, reduce waste, and stimulate economic wealth across our region – especially among historically under-resourced communities.

LACI is proud to amplify these stories, lift-up and empower 34 women founders and 36 founders from traditionally underrepresented groups who are joining the LACI Family this year!

We’re happy to introduce the full roster of 19 startups companies entering LACI’s founder programs across our three sector areas of focus:


APPLY FOR LACI’S INCUBATION PROGRAM TODAY!

CLEAN ENERGY

Global Energy Credit

Hardware solution to unlock the great potential of residential buildings in providing affordable, clean, and equitable energy for residents by making the electric meters intelligent, without costly upgrades.

Mack Designs

Developing a  vertical wall concept device which is comprised of a series of wind  induced oscillating geometries. As the devices flutter in the wind, they produce electricity on a micro scale on the interior encasement of the system.

Wayside Energy

Wayside Energy is creating a recyclable, modular, and rigid single piece injection molded battery pack system with a unique geothermal cooling system that is industry leading in price, reliability, safety, and performance while being cheap and simple to manufacture.

Compo Energy

A new source of renewable energy from a combination of compost and solar heat. The project provides an alternative solution to current waste landfill operation which is not environmentally safe, and does not benefit the surrounding communities.

ZERO EMISSIONS MOBILITY

Veloce Energy

Veloce is creating a platform of technologies to make it easier, faster and cheaper to electrify everything: vehicles, commercial buildings, homes.

Microgrid Labs

Microgrid Labs is launching a pilot with LACI to provide their EVopt planning Software as a Service solution to a network of medium and heavy duty electric vehicle (EV) fleet operators. This pilot will demonstrate  the advantage of our self-service platform for performing EV fleet assessments and the ability to aggregate electrification plans.

BASEstud.io

BASEstud.io is designing Beyond Smart Lighting Infrastructure to provide communities with access, equality, safety and sustainability – core needs for a well-balanced city.

Emissionless Technologies

Emissionless Technologies is an all-electric freight carrier, operating a fleet of electric semi-trucks through a network of supercharging hubs. The X Logistics solution overcomes range limitations  using the Transfer Hub model and connected fleets to keep freight moving, reducing inefficiencies endemic to conventional distribution networks.

Wild Technologies Inc.

Wild Technologies has designed the easiest to manufacture and customize battery pack for the marine industry.

CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Kit Switch

Kit Switch is a  modular building interiors startup creating a line of plug-and-play kitchens for multifamily housing developments.

Relyion Energy Inc.

Relyion Energy is enabling longer and sustainable use of Li-ion batteries.

VARIANT3D

VARIANT3D is 3D printing on demand for fully customizable textiles using sustainable or recycled inputs.

Shred Cycle Inc.

Shred Cycle Inc. is making sustainability easy and accessible to action sports enthusiasts by upcycling polyurethane waste, from skateboarding wheels and manufacturing  waste, back into useful outdoor products.

Coralite

Coralite is an innovative performance material company –  the Coralite material is made from 100% recycled foam, is fully circular, and has little to no waste in its production.

Galora, Inc.

Galora is the Airbnb of homegrown food. Neighbors can buy, sell or trade what they grow, bake, or make. Every year, 11.5 billion pounds of U.S. homegrown food is  wasted.

ThermoShade

ThermoShade is a “passive cooling” panel that can be retrofitted onto outdoor structures, creating a space that feels up to 20°F cooler than the outside air temperature with zero electricity and zero water.

LACI’s network of cleantech companies continues to grow in membership and as individual startups advance their solutions and demonstrate tremendous success in-market after completing LACI’s founder programs. To date, LACI has helped 340 portfolio companies raise $697M in funding, generated $323M in revenue, and created 2,565 jobs throughout the Los Angeles region, with a long-term economic impact of more than $573M.  Of the Incubation startups from LACI’s rebooted cohort model, EV charging station services provider ChargerHelp! currently employs 32 people and services 20,000 charging stations across 11 states. EV charging as a service provider SparkCharge recently raised $1M from SharkTank’s Mark Cuban. And, Maxwell Vehicles is working with a group of partners and startups to deploy the nation’s first-ever Zero Emission Delivery Zone with the goal of lowering emissions and decreasing traffic.

DIVERSITY METRICS
LACI’s mission of building an inclusive green economy is powered by a diverse range of staff, partners, program participants, and cleantech innovators, many of which are from historically underrepresented populations. As highlighted in a recent Yahoo! Finance story, LACI is leading efforts to create an inclusive green economy in Los Angeles. With a focus on supporting underrepresented founders. Our commitment to recruiting and supporting women, BIPOC, LGTBQ+ founders and other historically underrepresented groups is demonstrated by the diversity of founders represented in our recent cohorts as indicated below:

 

FBA COHORT 7
Founders Business Accelerator welcomed 15 small businesses into the program this fall.

  • Sectors: Founders in this cohort include those in entertainment, retail, wellness, circular economy and food services.
  • Location: City of Los Angeles
  • Diversity: Among 26 founders – 81% women, 96% BIPOC, 15% LGBTQ+
  • This is our most diverse cohort yet with founders who identify as Latinx (30%), Black (32%), Middle Eastern (3%), Indigenous (9%), East Asian (3%), South Asian (6%), South East Asian (3%).


INNOVATORS COHORT 7
We welcomed 9 new startups to this cohort in September. To learn more about these inventive founders and their offerings, please view this Startups Overview Deck.

  • Tech Sector: 44% Clean Energy focused, 33% Zero Emissions Transportation focused, and 22% Circular Economy focused.
  • Location: 3 based in the City of Los Angeles (Global Energy Credit, Emissionless Technologies, Galora)
  • Diversity: Among 15 founders – 6 women (40%), 3 BIPOC (20%)

 

INCUBATION COHORT 5
We welcomed 9 new startups to this cohort in October. To learn more about these dynamic founders and their cleantech solutions, please view this Startups Overview Deck.

  • Tech Sector: 33% Clean Energy focused, 11% Zero Emissions Transportation focused, and 55% Circular Economy focused
  • Location: 3 based in the City of Los Angeles, 2 based in Southern California, and 4 based in Northern California
  • Diversity:  Among 22 founders – 4 women (18%), 5 BIPOC (23%), 2 LGBTQ+ (9%)


MARKET ACCESS COHORT 4

Welcome Microgrid Labs!

The Market Access Program welcomes its newest founders, Narayanan Sankar and Namit Singh, of Microgrid Labs. Microgrid Labs offers Software as a Service for optimal planning, design and operation of electric fleets that provide a low-cost, accurate and scalable solution that can evolve with fleet demands and ease the transition to electric fleets. They have demonstrated cost and time savings with their EVopt SaaS platform across 10 projects throughout the country,  including planning for a fleet of 800 EV school buses.

 

Microgrid Labs’ EVopt planning SaaS Solution Model

 

Microgrid Labs’ Market Access Pilot
During their time in the Market Access Program, Microgrid Labs will deploy a pilot that provides their EVopt planning SaaS solution to a network of fleet operators, demonstrating the advantage of a self-service platform for performing fleet assessments and the ability to aggregate fleet electrification plans. This will generate valuable insights on the shifting of demand on grid load access for multiple fleets.

 

Now Accepting Pilot Partners
Microgrid Labs is now accepting pilot partners in Los Angeles to serve multiple EV fleets including modes of last-mile delivery, light and medium duty, school bus and drayage fleets.

To learn more about how to be a pilot partner for this innovative solution in LA please contact pipeline@laci.org.

LACI is currently recruiting for our Incubation Cohort 6 and we will open the application process for our Market Access Cohort 5 on November 27. For more information, and to join our family of successful startups and small business founders


APPLY FOR LACI’S INCUBATION PROGRAM TODAY!

TEP Partner Spotlight: Pasadena Water & Power

Pasadena Water & Power (PWP) has been a member of the Transportation Electrification Partnership (TEP) since 2020. As a utility for a smaller city, PWP’s partnership has been vital to understanding how we can move the needle towards an electrified future at the local level. The city’s climate action plan encourages EV transportation in order to reduce net emissions of greenhouse gasses, nitrogen oxide and harmful particulate matter emanating from a typical internal combustion engine. As such, PWP has made bold moves to electrify their city, and has demonstrated the importance of local leadership in achieving the Partnership’s Zero Emission Roadmap 2.0 goals through their Power Up Pasadena initiative.

PWP kicked-off the Power Up campaign in 2018, when it introduced new rebates for electric vehicles and EV chargers. They provide incentives for residential and commercial electric customers, which encourages adoption of EVs and EV infrastructure. 

Public Charging Opportunities

PWP is also expanding  charging infrastructure by installing chargers at public parking structures throughout the city, the largest of which is Marengo Charging Plaza. With a total of 44 chargers, 24 superchargers installed by Tesla and 20 fast chargers installed by the city of Pasadena, the Marengo Charging Plaza is one of the largest public EV fast-charging plazas, not only in the city, but in the nation. Within its first months of operation the Plaza captured more than 7,000 charging sessions per month. 

The support of public-private partnerships has proven an effective way to advance EV infrastructure and provide the technology needed to benefit the community. With the help of grants from the California Energy Commission (CEC) and South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD), and revenues from the Low Carbon Fuel Standard program, the city was able to construct the entire project without the use of rate payer dollars.

The Arroyo EV Charging Depot is another recent example of PWP’s commitment to the Power Up initiative. With a total of 26 chargers—20 of which are Tesla V3 Superchargers—the Depot helps support the city’s growing demand for EVs. Since the launch of the Power Up campaign, PWP has installed over 100 public EV chargers in the city and plans to continue building more. Pasadena City Council recently approved bringing three additional large charging facilities to Pasadena, including two community centers and a large expansion at the Del Mar Metro Station facility. 

Paving the Way Forward

Pasadena has the distinction of having the highest percentage of EV drivers among all Southern California electric utilities, and plans to continue supporting these drivers through expanded charging infrastructure and generous incentives. The city is focused on placing EV chargers at central locations throughout the city’s 23 square mile boundaries that will help drivers support their daily commute and extend their electric range to reach further destinations. 

This type of bold leadership at the local level is critical to transforming the Greater Los Angeles region in time for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. As we near our target date, local leadership will become increasingly important to achieving our ambitious goals. 

Shevonne Sua, LACI Transportation Program Coordinator

The Transportation Electrification Partnership (TEP) is an unprecedented regional public-private collaboration to accelerate deep reductions in climate and air pollution by the time of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. All of our partners have committed to work individually and collectively to pursue policies, pilot projects, and other actions that are equity-driven, create quality jobs, grow the economy, and help the region reach the bold targets in the TEP’s Zero Emissions 2028 Roadmap 2.0.

 

Pasadena Water & Power and Tesla electric vehicle charging stations on the roof of the Marengo parking garage at 155 E Green St., Jan. 24, 2020. (Photo by: Eric Reed/Pasadena Water & Power)

Pasadena’s Marengo Parking Structure’s top level is a joint electric vehicle charging station provided by Pasadena Water & Power with Tesla, March, 2020. (Eric Reed/Pasadena Water & Power)

Statement from LACI

As we strive to create an inclusive green economy here in Los Angeles, it is clearer than ever we need to collectively deepen our work in addressing the underlying causes of racial, economic, and environmental inequality and injustice–and we need elected leaders who will do the same. The horrific racist, anti-Black, homophobic, anti-indigenous statements by LA City Councilmembers goes against the grain of our mission, values, and work. Healing requires accountability for all the elected officials involved, including resignation. Only by doing so can Los Angeles return to the work of economic, climate, and racial justice across our region, and in frontline, disadvantaged communities in particular where Black and Brown communities are most vulnerable as well as face the greatest barriers in accessing capital for their startups and businesses, cleantech solutions that lower emissions in their communities, and opportunities to join the green workforce.

Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator

LACI’s Incubation Cohort 3 Pilots Announced

In October 2021, LACI welcomed eight promising cleantech startups to its first Incubation Cohort Pilots program funded by the US Department of Energy (DOE) EPIC Program. EPIC Program. Each of the participating startups received $20,000 to design and deploy small-scale pilots to demonstrate their technologies and hone their business models. Startups pitched their business models to LACI and LACI’s EPIC Pilot Partners. As a result of that pitch session, each was paired with one EPIC Pilot Partner who provided pilot design and site guidance, technical advice, and financial assistance as needed. 

Through the collaborative effort of LACI’s Incubation Pilots program, most of these startups have already experienced their first taste of success. Following is information on each startup and its respective achievements to date, within the program.

EPIC Pilot Partners who have agreed to be a site host and/or mentor for the 2022-2023 Pilot Phase of the Incubation Program include California Energy Commission (CEC), LA Metro, Pando Populus, Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA), Edison International, LA County, Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT), and the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP). 

Pilot

Pilot Description

What they do: Delphire helps prevent or contain wildfires by providing actionable real-time information from remote locations.

Their successes from the program: Delphire was accepted into the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center’s Summer 2022 Milestone Makers cohort

Delphire was asked to speak at an On Demand webinar titled A Fire Safe Culture Continuum: Blending investment, technology and expertise to transition from reactiveness to a culture of wildfire safety.

Delphire secured grant funding for SBIR grant Phase 1, and applied for funding under Phase 2.

What they do: Testing demand forecasting software with or on the La Kretz Innovation Campus’ mobility microgrid

Their successes from the program: Energos was named on the 2022 Diamond List of impactful climate companies.

Energos is currently raising a $2-3M Seed Round. 

What they do: Evolectric is a technology company that converts commercial gas-powered vehicles into electric ones — and gets them back on the street. Their approach reduces emissions and waste and accelerates deployment of zero emission vehicles.

Their successes from the program: Evolectric was accepted into the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center’s Summer 2022 Milestone Makers cohort.

Evolectric won the Circular World Challenge by AB InBev. They received the  golden ticket to this year’s 100+ Accelerator cohort which guarantees a pilot with at least one of the Accelerator partners (AB InBev, Coca-Cola, Unilever, Colgate).

The Evolectric team was featured during the Schwarzenegger Institute’s 20th Anniversary celebration of AB1493, California’s Clean Car Standards, showcasing their mission and core technology. 

The Evolectric team and truck was featured during the visit that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and U.S Congressman Jimmy Gomez made to LACI to celebrate the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act.

Evolectric was featured in the Climate Council article The North American clean tech companies driving the energy transition.

What they do: Deploy smart light switches, which encourage residents in affordable housing to reduce energy use at key times. 

Their successes from the program: Flick developed a second generation wireless prototype device for trial and reached agreement with Southern CA Edison to support an expanded trial of their technology. They presented this to the Consulate General of Lithuania and Vice Minister of Energy during a visit to La Kretz Innovation Campus in late May.

What they do: Demonstrating scaled-down version of tech in a pool

Their successes from the program: Joule has made significant progress on the development of its proof of concept prototype and expects to be in pilot metrics mode by August.

What they do: MeterLeader gamifies saving energy in homes by using real-time utility data and behavior science principles. They help companies engage their employees in reducing carbon emissions at home and we help them report those reductions for ESG purposes. MeterLeader is like a Fitbit Corporate Wellness Program, but instead of steps we measure kWh, therms, and carbon emission reductions. 

Their successes from the program: MeterLeader participated in the Stanley-Techstars Accelerator based in Baltimore, MD. They are currently working to execute 3 new Corporate Energy Challenge Pilots. MeterLeader also increased the number of utility data streams with which it can integrate, advancing from integrating with 3 electric and gas utilities to 12.

 

What they do: Validating business case by analyzing samples from CA desalination plants for saleable minerals

Their successes from the program: Olokun Minerals was named on the 2022 Diamond List of impactful climate companies.

Olukun Minerals finished its first round of lab samples for the EPIC pilot.

What they do: Zero waste design and manufacturing company focused on upcycling and repurposing cross-industry materials destined for landfill.

Their successes from the program: Rewilder produced 1,200 backpacks for the Summit of the Americas 2022.

Rewilder received media recognition in Shoutout LA and Association Now and was featured in a news segment on Spectrum TV.

Launched TEE2.0! in collaboration with UPRISERS, a new kind of t-shirt that creatively reuses existing tees. Currently testing a new upcycling process to generate material as an alternative to virgin fabric during  LACI’s Pilot. 

 

LACI looks forward to seeing startups in the DOE-funded EPIC Program Cohort 1 (LACI’s Incubation Cohort 3) grow and scale their companies with the goal of helping them secure their first customer and celebrate successful follow-on funding equity rounds. We also look forward to hosting the pilots and EPIC Pilot Partners at LACI’s Power Day event on October 6, 2022.

TEP Partner Spotlight: Electrify America

With over 30 partners in the Transportation Electrification Partnership (TEP), we are fortunate to
have a partner that is investing deeply in the LA region, focusing on direct-current fast charging, and is approaching
the work holistically with a virtual power plant. Electrify America LLC has been a member of
the Transportation Electrification Partnership (TEP) since 2020. As the largest open DC fast
charging network in the U.S., Electrify America is working to enable millions of Americans to
discover the benefits of electric driving and support the build-out of a nationwide network of
ultra-fast community and highway corridor chargers that are convenient and reliable. Through
an investment of more than $2 billion over 10 years in zero emission vehicle infrastructure,
education and access, Electrify America is making bold moves to ensure a zero emissions
future. As we push forward with our TEP goals set forth in the Roadmap 2.0, Electrify America’s
work to expand the charging network is critical.

Collaboration is Key
One of the ways Electrify America is able to expand its reach is through collaborations with
industry leaders. For example, Bank of America and Electrify America recently announced plans
to more than double the number of financial centers equipped with EV charging stations by the
end of 2023. As of the beginning of this year, 172 Electrify America individual EV chargers have
been installed at 46 financial centers – totals the companies intend to grow to more than 350
chargers at over 90 financial centers by the end of 2023.

Additionally, BMW of North America and Electrify America publicized an agreement this year to
provide 2022 BMW EV customers with two years of 30-minute complimentary charging sessions
at all Electrify America public charging stations, from the date of vehicle purchase. With no
additional cost to the vehicle’s purchase price, customers can receive immediate access to
complimentary charging at more than 3,500 Electrify America chargers across the U.S. Electrify
America has announced other customer charging agreements with companies such as Audi,
Ford, Kia America, Volvo, and more. By providing this resource to new EV owners, Electrify America is incentivizing potential customers and helping to make EVs a more attractive option.

Through bold initiatives like this, Electrify America has helped move the needle and encourage
the adoption of EVs. In 2021, they provided 1.45 million customer EV charging sessions, which
highlights the rapid deployment of its charging stations across the United States. By
comparison, the company recorded 268,000 customer EV charging sessions in 2020. This
impressive change shows the increasing popularity of their services, making it imperative that
the country is able to keep up with demand.

Going Bigger
Building on Electrify America’s first successful Green City program in Sacramento, the company
is now also working with Long Beach and Los Angeles city officials as well as private fleet
operators, owners and collaborators to implement projects focused on charging electrification
for public transit and heavy-duty electric vehicles, showcasing ultra-fast charging technology,
and energy management for these two emerging use cases. Efforts are focused on tackling
medium and heavy-duty emissions in the Long Beach and the Wilmington neighborhoods of Los
Angeles.

Additionally, Electrify America and NFI Industries revealed plans for the nation’s single largest
charging infrastructure project to support heavy-duty electric trucks, with 38 ultra-fast DC
chargers slated for completion by December 2023 to support 60+ battery-electric drayage
trucks.

Powered Up
As Electrify America continues to grow its network, providing electricity to increasing numbers of
chargers will require massive amounts of energy. To address this, Electrify America has entered
into a 15-year virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) with developer Terra-Gen to build a
solar photovoltaic renewable energy generation project in San Bernardino County, California
called Electrify America Solar Glow™. The new solar project is expected to generate 75
Megawatts of 100% renewable energy annually at peak production, the equivalent power usage
of more than 20,000 average American homes, or an estimated annual production of 225,000
Megawatt hours. It is projected to produce enough 100% renewable energy annually to more
than offset the energy currently delivered on an annualized basis to Electrify America’s
customers charging on its extensive network and is targeted to be operational by mid-2023. This
groundbreaking project will ensure that Electrify America’s extensive charging network will be
supported by renewable energy and has helped the company become North America’s largest
open DC fast charging network to enter into a virtual power purchase agreement for new
renewable energy generation.

As we draw closer to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, it is vital for us to make bold
moves and lead the way towards a cohesive, accessible zero emissions transportation system.
Through close collaboration and strong leadership, we will shape the future of transportation to
become a more accessible, zero emissions system that will serve as a model to the rest of the
world.

– Shevonne Sua, LACI Transportation Program Coordinator

The Transportation Electrification Partnership (TEP) is an unprecedented regional public-private
collaboration to accelerate deep reductions in climate and air pollution by the time of the 2028
Olympic and Paralympic Games. All of our partners have committed to work individually and
collectively to pursue policies, pilot projects, and other actions that are equity-driven, create
quality jobs, grow the economy, and help the region reach the bold targets in the TEP’s Zero
Emissions 2028 Roadmap 2.0.

 

 

Speaker Pelosi, Rep. Jimmy Gomez Celebrate Historic Climate & Clean Energy Provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act

LOS ANGELES, CA – Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) and Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) in the Arts District to highlight the Inflation Reduction Act’s impact on clean energy production and transportation electrification to fight the climate crisis.

The Inflation Reduction Act represents the single largest investment in climate action in American history. Analysis from organizations such as Energy Innovation and the Rhodium Group find that the climate provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act, including the used clean vehicle and home energy savings tax credits championed by Rep. Gomez, would put the United States on a path to meeting its climate commitments by decreasing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030.

“It’s impossible to overstate how transformative the Inflation Reduction Act is, particularly on climate action,” said Congressman Gomez (CA-34). “I am especially proud to see one of my bills that became law, the Affordable EVs for Working Families Act, encourage local organizations such as LACI to work with clean energy partners to bring our nation closer toward a greener and more prosperous future. This law would single-handedly create 9 million good-paying jobs over the next decade and put our country on track to meet our nation’s climate goals. I want to thank Speaker Pelosi for her leadership in getting this life-changing legislation across the finish line for America’s families and for the next generation.”

“It was a privilege to join Congressman Jimmy Gomez at the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator, seeing firsthand how clean industries are powering prosperity in our communities,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi said.  “Thanks to President Biden and Democrats in Congress, the Inflation Reduction Act is turbocharging clean energy innovation here in California and across the country – putting America on a path to saving the planet while creating millions of good-paying jobs.  House Democrats are grateful for the persistent leadership of Congressman Gomez, who helped lead the charge to secure historic investments in energy efficient homes and vehicles.  Working together, we will not relent until we achieve a safer, greener, healthier future for generations to come.”

“We are grateful to Speaker Pelosi and for Congressman Gomez’ leadership in ensuring the IRA not only is the largest climate bill in history, but is a targeted investment in ensuring every American can access clean energy, retrofit their homes, and drive an EV,” said Matt Petersen, CEO of LACI. “In April 2020, LACI’s Transportation Electrification Partnership proposed a federal $150 billion stimulus to boost electric vehicle manufacturing, expand zero emission infrastructure, provide low income families access to mobility, and promote EV-related workforce development. Thanks to the President, the Speaker and bills like Rep. Gomez’ Affordable EVs for Working Families Act, it is gratifying to see so many of the proposals become law including the used EV tax credit and investing in producing critical minerals from places like Lithium Valley.”

LACI Launches Campaign Urging California State Legislature to Increase Funding for Zero Emissions Transportation of Goods; Campaign Reinforces Budget Request from Southern California Coalition of Mayors, Ports, Labor, and Environmental Groups

The Proposed Increased Investments will Help Meet Transportation Electrification Partnership’s Zero Emissions Roadmap Targets to Reduce Pollution by 2028 Olympics; investments Key to Creating Jobs, Growing the Economy, and Protecting Public Health While Reducing the Largest Source of Air Pollution in Greater LA

LOS ANGELES, CA, May 24, 2022 – Today the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI)–convenor of the Transportation Electrification Partnership–launched a digital campaign to reinforce the budget request from a coalition led by the Mayors and Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, labor, environmental justice and environmental organizations, and LACI. In a recent letter, the coalition–which also includes International Longshoremen and Warehouse Union locals, Southern California Edison, EarthJustice, and a broad swath of environmental advocates–urged the California Legislature to increase State funding for the adoption of zero emission transportation of goods.

Forty percent of the nation’s goods enter through the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles which serve as an enormous source of economic activity and jobs, while also generating the single largest source of air pollution in the region. Southern California continues to be home to the worst air quality in the country. That’s why the Transportation Electrification Partnership – with over 30 public and private sector members – has set bold targets to reduce air and climate pollution by the 2028 Olympics, including ensuring 40% of the short haul drayage trucks are zero emissions and 60% medium duty last mile delivery trucks are electric.

The campaign, anchored on a digital ad “Solutions”, urges California Legislators to invest additional funding in zero emissions solutions that can clean up Southern California’s air, while creating good paying green jobs and keeping the region’s economy and goods moving.

In a letter to Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, Senate Pro Tem Toni Atkins and Legislative Budget Chairs, the coalition called for a $3.31 billion investment to accelerate the adoption of zero emissions drayage trucks and cargo handling equipment at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. The request in the letter builds on Governor Newsom’s proposed budget by adding an additional $900 million for truck incentives via HVIP and CORE and additional $225 million for drayage trucks and charging, including a $100 million carve out for charging infrastructure along the I-710 where BEV drayage trucks are beginning to operate with more BEV truck models coming soon from OEMs.

“We applaud Governor Newsom’s historic climate and zero emission transportation budget priorities,” said Matt Petersen, LACI CEO and Chair of the Transportation Electrification Partnership. “Given the unprecedented state budget surplus, we urge the legislature to make additional investments in accelerating truck and port electrification—in particular focusing on the most critical goods movement corridor in the state and nation, the I-710–that will pay economic, health and environmental dividends for our region and provide an example for other port regions throughout the country and around the world.”

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About The Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI)
The Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) is creating an inclusive green economy by unlocking innovation through helping scale cleantech startups, transforming markets through catalytic partnerships like the Transportation Electrification Partnership, and enhancing communities through green workforce training and pilots. Founded as an economic development initiative by the City of Los Angeles and its Department of Water & Power (LADWP) in 2011, LACI is recognized as one of the top 10 innovative business incubators in the world by UBI. To date, LACI has supported 315 startup companies that have secured more than $695 million in funding, generated more than $308 million in revenue, and helped to create an estimated 2,480 jobs with a long-term projected economic impact of more than $555 million.

Congresswoman Barragán and LACI Tout “Ev’s For All Act” To Bring Ev Car Share and Charging To Public Housing Residents Nationally, Join Residents In Highlighting Benefits From LACI Zero Emissions Car Share Pilot At Rancho San Pedro

Barragán and LACI CEO Matt Petersen Urge Passage of HR 6662 to Increase Access to EVs and Charging in Neighborhoods Facing Disproportionate Air Pollution such as from diesel trucks moving goods from the Port of LA; LACI’s EV car share pilot created to address equity while accelerating regional progress toward the Transportation Electrification Partnership’s 2028 target

May 6, 2022,SAN PEDRO, CA – Congresswoman Nanette Díaz Barragán (CA-44), author of the EVs For All Act (HR 6662) that would provide residents of 50 public housing projects nationwide with access to zero emission cars and charging infrastructure (alt. stations), joined San Pedro constituents and Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) President and CEO Matt Petersen to see first-hand the innovative EV car-sharing program that inspired her legislation, and to advocate that everyone, regardless of income, must be included in the electric vehicle transformation.

During Rep. Barragán’s and Petersen’s tour of the Rancho San Pedro EV Car Share Program, they spoke to residents about air quality and transportation issues they face, and how the successful pilot program developed by LACI facilitates residents’ mobility and helps them cope with high gas prices. LACI created the EV Car Share pilot to find ways to increase equitable access to EVs and charging while accelerating progress toward their Transportation Electrification Partnership’s targets to achieve by the 2028 Olympics, including getting 30% of the cars on the road across LA county to be EVs and 40% of the drayage trucks serving ports to be zero emissions.

“My constituents in Rancho San Pedro public housing are overwhelmingly burdened by toxic air pollution due to their proximity to the Port of Los Angeles, oil refineries, and transportation corridors with heavy truck traffic.” said Congresswoman Barragán. “We know the future is zero emissions, but without the right investments, low-income communities are at risk of being left behind. This community deserves clean air and affordable zero emission transportation options that will also result in more clean vehicles on the roads in their community.”

“Many communities of color face disproportionate air pollution yet completely lack access to EV charging
infrastructure or electric vehicles,” said Matt Petersen, LACI’s CEO. “To achieve the Biden Administration’s
commitment to Justice40, we need to scale models like LACI’s EV car share pilot that brings EVs and charging to disadvantaged communities. I am proud that Rep. Barragán’s EVs for All legislation is modeled on LACI’s pilot we created with and for the residents of Rancho San Pedro.”

The EVs for All Act, H.R. 6662, would authorize up to $50 million in annual appropriations from 2022-2031 for a new grant program with the Department of Energy in coordination with Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Transportation (DOT). The bill would help public housing authorities and local governments invest in electric vehicles (EV), EV charging stations, community education and outreach, and other services and incentives to provide access to EVs in underserved communities.

H.R. 6662 is aligned with the Biden-Harris administration’s Justice40 Initiative, a commitment to invest 40% of the federal government’s investments in climate and clean energy in disadvantaged communities.

The Rancho San Pedro EV Car Share is a 12-month pilot program created by LACI in partnership with the
Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA), Envoy and Nissan. The program, which has now been
extended indefinitely by HACLA and to which LACI will soon add an e-bike share, provides two EVs for residents to rent for $3 an hour, along with dedicated spaces for charging, and access to HACLA Community Coaches who conducted outreach, enrollment, and training. Residents use these cars to get to work, grocery shop, run errands, for doctor appointments, and to visit family.

At the news conference, residents told the dignitaries and media that having access to the shareable EVs has
made their lives easier. Beatriz Mendez, a driver user of LACI’s EV Car Share pilot at Rancho San Pedro says, “I was the first one at Rancho San Pedro to try the EV and I was amazed at how efficient it was to use it to go to the doctor and go shopping, to be able to drop the kids off at school. We need to make sure something like this is available nationwide.” She went on to share, “We are very mindful of the impact of climate change and pollution from the ports and refineries. So every time I used the EV, I was very aware of how this was bringing a healthier and more sustainable option for me and for the community around here. I’m really happy about that.”

“The combined efforts of our community coaches have led the drivers of Rancho San Pedro to embrace the idea of electric cars. Residents now understand and appreciate that having these zero emission solutions reduce pollution in their community. It’s both affordable and convenient as well. The Housing Authority and the residents of Rancho San Pedro are very fortunate to have this program here and we look forward to the opportunity to expand it.” added Margarita Lares, Chief Programs Officer for the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA), and LACI EV Car Share Pilot partner.

LACI is accelerating transportation electrification in the Los Angeles region through pilots and policy, as well as incubating startups and training individuals to join the green workforce. Barragán’s office worked closely with LACI to develop the legislation. “The success of our clean energy future requires that every resident, regardless of income, is included in the electric vehicle transformation,” Congresswoman Barragán said. “The EVs for All Act would provide resources for low-income residents in my district and around the country that are often left out of climate solutions. Congress must lead the way in ensuring that everyone has access to electric vehicles and clean air, including people who can’t afford to own a car.”

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About LACI: The Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) is creating an inclusive green economy by unlocking innovation through helping scale cleantech startups, transforming markets through catalytic partnerships like the Transportation Electrification Partnership, and enhancing communities through green jobs workforce training and pilots. Founded as an economic development initiative by the City of Los Angeles and its Department of Water and Power (LADWP) in 2011, LACI is recognized as one of the top 10 innovative business incubators in the world by UBI. To date, LACI has supported 315 startup
companies that have secured more than $695 million in funding, generated more than $308 million in revenue, and helped to create an estimated 2,480 jobs with a long-term projected economic impact of more than $555 million.

LACI welcomes eight game-changing cleantech startups to Incubation Cohort Four

LACI kicked-off the fourth cohort of its Incubation program by welcoming eight promising cleantech startups to its growing portfolio.

In keeping with LACI’s mission of creating an inclusive green economy, the Spring 2022 cohort is a diverse mix of members from underrepresented communities including women, black and brown entrepreneurs, LGBTQ+ and veteran founders. Cohort 4 technology sector composition features a powerful 50% Clean Energy, 25% Circular Economy, and 25% Zero Emissions Mobility startups.

Circular Fashion LA founder Karri Ann Frerichs is one of the eight entrepreneurs accepted into the program. A graduate of LACI’s Founders Business Accelerator, the startup was ready to advance their circular economy fashion solutions. By focusing on specific materials and replicable design processes, Circular Fashion LA can satisfy customers’ desire for newness and individuality in their wardrobes and home decor while eliminating waste and leaving nature to regenerate itself.

 

Bluedot is also a new member of LACI’s Incubation 4 startup portfolio. Bluedot is dedicated to providing smart electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions for smart cities and SME owners. They redefine the EV driver experience and reshape the way private and corporate fleet companies join the e-mobility movement by introducing innovative and profitable charging infrastructure for businesses of all sizes and engaging EV drivers with service providers. Co-Founder Selinay Filiz Parlak is a recent winner of the Women4Climate Lisboa 2020.


During LACI’s two-year Incubation program, startups develop their technologies, secure funding and financing, access customers and markets, test and pilot their solutions, and unlock their full potential.
Additionally, each startup team is matched with an Executive-in-Residence (EIR) who provides support in developing a roadmap to track, measure, and execute key milestones, and introduce founders to valuable business, community and funding partners. Startups in the Spring 2022 cohort will build a network with their fellow cohort members and with the greater LACI ecosystem, to foster a collaborative and supportive community for achieving growth and contributing to the global transition to zero emissions and an inclusive green economy. 

Meet the eight exciting and innovative startups that will be part of LACI’s Incubation program for the next two years:

  • Ashipa: Ashipa Electric develops renewables-based microgrids and software solutions to revolutionize the bidirectional interaction between utility (water, gas, and electric) consumers and producers.
  • Bluedot: Bluedot is a digital banking card for electric car owners. Bluedot offers a one-tap point of purchase solution for auto-related expenses and charging and cash back points for driving, charging, shopping, and dining.
  • Circular Fashion LA: Circular Fashion LA creates customizable and unique clothing and home goods on a mass scale using only post-consumer and post-industrial textile and clothing waste.
  • Clew: Clew is a countertop food waste recycling appliance that conveniently grinds, heats and dries food into a shelf-stable fertilizer that turns waste into a valuable resource. Clew’s mission is to provide tools and education for people to expand their knowledge of resource management and connection to the environment.
  • CZAR-Power: CZAR-Power is an Army veteran and MIT PhD-led cleantech company building a fully integrated energy platform. CZAR-Power combines software with multiple, traditionally expensive, cleantech power electronics like solar inverters and electric vehicle fast chargers, into one powerfully simple system.
  • facil.ai: facil.ai provides an artificial intelligence based solution to optimize energy use, resulting in a low cost, easy to install, rapidly scalable, and simple to use facilities solution.
  • GenH: GenH is a next-generation clean energy technology development company that has created a first in class, rapidly deployable, and modular hydropower system, Adaptive Hydro™. Adaptive Hydro™ is designed to electrify non-powered dams and canal heads without construction or investment in fixed infrastructure.
  • Portable Solar: A novel use of thermoplastics technology to produce PV panel mounting systems that replace traditional racking systems and enable assembly and placement of a ground-based solar generation system without the need for specialized skills. (Connection is completed by an electrician.)

These inventive startups will join a powerful and deeply connected community of 315 diverse LACI founders and alumni who are making an impact – like SparkCharge, ReWilder Goods, and ElectricFish.


TEP Partner Spotlight: East Bay Community Energy

As the only Northern California-based member of the Transportation Electrification Partnership (TEP), East Bay Community Energy (EBCE) plays a unique role in shaping our work within the Greater Los Angeles region and applying their learnings throughout the state. EBCE is the second largest Community Choice Aggregation provider in California, a public agency Joint Powers Authority (JPA), and the default Load Serving Entity formed under Assembly Bill 117 (2002). Governed by a 15-member Board of Directors consisting of elected officials from each of its JPA member communities in Alameda County and the City of Tracy (San Joaquin County), EBCE meets the electricity needs of over 60,000 commercial and industrial accounts and serves all residential accounts representing 1.7 million people. EBCE is also tasked with the development and management of energy related climate programs, including transportation electrification initiatives, that help their local government JPA member achieve local and state greenhouse gas reduction goals.

Participating in TEP since early 2020 has enabled EBCE to establish new strategic relationships with a variety of stakeholders including industry players in the medium- and heavy-duty goods movement sector that have a footprint in northern and southern California. This truly unique and dynamic partnership between TEP and EBCE enables market acceleration of zero-emission transportation statewide.

Light-duty EV Charging

One key area of focus for EBCE is light-duty electric vehicle charging. EBCE’s transportation electrification team has conducted an analysis to understand homecharging access throughout their service territory and identify critical disparities that could hinder widespread EV adoption. EBCE identified that in Alameda County alone 47% of the population are renters and 90% of all multifamily housing properties with 5+ units are 50 years old or older, which means that electrical capacity upgrades will  be likely across this building portfolio. Those upgrades are the property owner’s responsibility and not the tenants (e.g., key barrier to deploying Level 1 and/or Level 2 charging to enable home charging). Because those upgrades cannot occur quickly at the scale needed to meet the state’s goals, EBCE is prioritizing deployment of reliable, convenient, and cost-effective public fast charging options near where renters live to ensure all residents in EBCE’s service area can join the transition to EVs.

One such example is the Alameda County Incentive Project (AICP), which recently provided $17.3 million in incentives for publicly-accessible fast charging and Level 2 infrastructure. Co-funded by the California Energy Commission’s (CEC) Electric Vehicle Incentive Project (CALeVIP) and EBCE, unique requirements of the program included allocating budget specifically for fast chargers that had to be located in areas EBCE identified as multi-unit dwelling “hotspots”. EBCE was also able to change the CEC’s CALeVIP rules for multifamily property Level 2 charging incentive “adders,” opening the door for any affordable multifamily provider, regardless of whether their property was in a disadvantaged community or low-income census tract boundary, to have access to this beneficial funding.

Another example of EBCE’s commitment to making the transition to EVs more accessible is their expanding fast charging network. EBCE’s equity-based strategy is focused on developing large fast charging hubs, owned by EBCE, in its multi-unit dwelling hotspots. This will eliminate charging deserts and provide access to charging for all, faster. EBCE’s first project is on the border of West Oakland and downtown in a municipal parking garage. Once built, it will be the largest fast charging hub in Oakland and 2nd largest in Alameda County with 17 dual port fast chargers. The garage is within 2 square miles of approximately 1,000 multifamily properties with 5+ units. There are currently no fast chargers in West Oakland, so this new hub will be a 100% increase in access to fast charging by nearby residents from baseline.

Medium- and Heavy-Duty (MD/HD) Goods Movement

EBCE’s electrification goals extend beyond the light-duty sector as well, as their service area is among the most strategic trade locations in the U.S. with connections to regional, state, national, and international markets. Alameda County provides most of the fundamental goods movement infrastructure in Northern California, including the Port of Oakland, Oakland International Airport and major freight corridors spanning into the Central Valley. Much of the focus on zero-emission goods movement to date has been centered on drayage trucks specifically operating at ports. However, to comprehensively transition to a zero-emission goods movement economy, EBCE’s lens is beyond port boundaries for deployment of charging infrastructure to ensure all MD/HD stakeholders have access where they need it most.

EBCE envisions an ecosystem of MD/HD goods movement vehicles that will recharge at facilities where they are domiciled, at third-party logistic facilities where they do business, and at convenient common fast charging yards that operate much like a wholesale gas station. Additionally, because origination of MD/HD goods movement vehicle trips is not exclusive to one city and is regional, a comprehensive approach to planning for this transition is necessary to bring the biggest community benefit to vulnerable populations.

Interregional Collaboration

As we push towards an electrified future, interregional collaboration will be more important than ever to ensure that the EV revolution extends beyond the Greater LA area. Through close cooperation, we can learn from other regions and share our own best practices in order to reach our common goals and create a cohesive, replicable system. Through EBCE’s active participation in TEP, we can show the world how collaboration transcends geography as we work towards an electrified California.

– Shevonne Sua, LACI Transportation Program Coordinator

The Transportation Electrification Partnership (TEP) is an unprecedented regional public-private collaboration to accelerate deep reductions in climate and air pollution by the time of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. All of our partners have committed to work individually and collectively to pursue policies, pilot projects, and other actions that are equity-driven, create quality jobs, grow the economy, and help the region reach the bold targets in the TEP’s Zero Emissions 2028 Roadmap 2.0.