Author: vince_admin

Applications Open for the 2020 LA New Mobility Challenge!

Posted on October 12, 2020 by - LACI News

The L.A. New Mobility Challenge is a major global startup competition focused on solving the challenges of urban mobility. The fourth edition of the Challenge brings together cutting-edge startups looking to solve two critical issues: Solutions for Transporting Goods in Urban Environments and Solutions for Transporting People in Urban Environments. Interested companies should apply by October 30, and semi-finalists will be invited to pitch their concepts to our esteemed judges at CoMotion LA LIVE: November 17-19. Apply Now!

This year’s Challenge is a joint initiative of CoMotion, the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator, the NewCities Foundation, and our partners at the UK Government / British Consulate-General in Los Angeles, SparkLabs Group and Urban Movement Labs. The Grand Prize winner receives an amazing array of prizes and benefits: a trip to Seoul to present at SparkLabs Korea DemoDay16 (and a five-star hotel stay), three months of mentoring by SparkLabs Partners, the right to join Urban Movement Labs, intros to key stakeholders at the UK’s Department for Transport, and much, much more.

This year’s L.A. New Mobility Challenge is an integral part of CoMotion LA’s Advancements track of programming. Join us November 17-19 to learn from and meet with the next wave of innovative mobility startups, connect with leading VCs and technologists, and dive deep with highly tailored programming.

Register now for the L.A. New Mobility Challenge here. 

The Hill: Newsom’s EV executive order will help make California breathable again

Posted on October 8, 2020 by - N-News, Blog, Home Featured, LACI News

Climate science has long warned us of the extreme heat and extreme fires that we are now facing on the West Coast. As tragically historic fires burn 4 million acres and repeated heat waves ravage our state, California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) recent executive order on zero emission cars and trucks is the bold action required to tackle this climate crisis.

Transportation is responsible for 40 percent of our state’s emissions and has long been the major source of smog-forming pollution our residents live with every day. Transforming how we move people and goods away from the internal combustion engine and fossil fuels will also help prevent thousands of deaths annually due to air pollution and reduce the risk for vulnerable populations due to upper respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.

Statement from LACI CEO and Transportation Electrification Partnership Chair Matt Petersen

Posted on September 23, 2020 by - News Featured, Uncategorized, N-News, Blog, Main, Home Featured, LACI News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Statement from LACI CEO and Transportation Electrification Partnership Chair Matt Petersen

LOS ANGELES, CA – After today’s announcements from California Governor Gavin Newsom on climate initiatives, Matt Petersen, CEO of Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) and Chair of the Transportation Electrification Partnership (TEP), released the following statement:

“On behalf of LACI and our unprecedented Transportation Electrification Partnership (TEP), we applaud Governor Newsom’s ambitious yet needed targets to only sell zero emission passenger cars and trucks by 2035 and have all medium- and heavy-duty trucks be zero emissions by 2045, with a 2035 goal for drayage trucks. We also applaud the Governor’s commitment to advancing equity by increasing access to zero emissions solutions, including used EVs and micromobility options such as electric bikes. Governor Newsom’s leadership shows that, in the face of the worst climate crisis with wildfires and extreme heat ravaging our state, California will continue to lead.

“Through our collaboration with California Air Resources Board, regional utilities, Mayor Garcetti, Los Angeles County, LA Metro, labor, and industry, LACI and our partners set bold transportation electrification targets for light duty cars, mode shift, and goods movement for the LA region to advance climate equity, reduce air pollution, and more by the time the world arrives for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

To help achieve our targets and the state to lead, we are calling for the creation of a California electric vehicle authority to enhance the coordination needed and create additional financing tools for vehicles and charging infrastructure while boosting equity, job creation, workforce training, and economic development. Given the economic recovery needed due to COVID, we also convened a national coalition of over 80 companies, business organizations, and labor groups to push for comprehensive stimulus measures to support not just California’s zero emissions transportation efforts, but to grow this critical sector at the national level.

“California is building the future here now to clear the smoke and pollution from our air so all our state’s residents and future generations can breathe freely. LACI and TEP look forward to working with the Governor and the legislature to ensure all of our communities benefit from these policies.”

 

ABOUT LACI

Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) is creating an inclusive green economy for the people of Los Angeles by: unlocking innovation by working with startups to accelerate the commercialization of clean technologies; transforming markets through partnerships with policymakers, innovators, and market leaders in transportation, energy and sustainable cities; and enhancing communities through workforce development, pilots, and other programs. Founded as an economic development initiative by the City of Los Angeles and Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP), LACI is recognized as one of the most innovative business incubators in the world by UBI. In the past ten years, LACI has helped 236 portfolio companies raise $508 million in funding, $272 million in revenue, and create over 2,100 jobs in the Los Angeles region. Learn more at laci.org.

LACI Welcomes Cohort 5 of Innovators

Posted on September 8, 2020 by - Blog, Main, Home Featured, LACI News, News Featured, Uncategorized, N-News

LACI recently welcomed its fifth cohort of LACI Innovators—16 startup businesses seeking to change the world for the better. This year’s cohort includes companies that are innovating to make the power grid cleaner and work better; to move LA toward an electric transportation future; and to reduce waste in our environment.

Through Cohort 5 and those that came before, LACI empowers a new generation of entrepreneurs  to lead the 21st century cleantech economy. Through the LACI Innovators program, startup founders receive a free 12-month network access program for early-stage cleantech companies. Designed for companies based in Southern California, this program helps startups become more competitive, resilient, and environmentally sustainable.

The work of our startups is more important than ever in the face of a pandemic and climate crisis. These companies are on the front lines, implementing solutions that will improve public health and environmental outcomes while also creating new wealth in California communities.  

The cleantech innovation ecosystem in California is growing thanks in large part to the dedication of the California Energy Commission (CEC)  which has funded programs to nurture cleantech like the LACI Innovators Program over the past several years. This year we received 36 applications in total for the Innovators Program.

Please join us in welcoming LACI’s Innovators Program Cohort 5!

The full cohort is listed below: 

Advanced Energy Analytics

Advanced Energy Analytics have developed a software platform for utility companies, Interconnection Qualifier (IQ), that streamlines and automates the approval process that new technologies need to undergo to be used by utilities. The software reduces the processing time, provides cohesion among all utilities, and removes uncertainty associated with the process. 

BioZen Batteries, Inc.

BioZen Batteries develops advanced organic electrolytes for organic redox flow batteries (O-RBFs). Our technology is a key component in stationary battery storage that helps meet immediate needs in (1) modernizing the electric grid, (2) providing emergency back-up systems in the form of community micro-grids, and (3) various applications in off-grid storage.

ChargeNet

ChargeNet’s cloud-based Energy-as-a-Service platform integrates EV Fast Chargers, Solar, Energy Storage and Restaurant/Retail Point-of-Sale systems to stack value streams into one consolidated solution, built to scale for the EV and clean energy revolution. We use point-of-sale and other valuable data that provides highly accurate forecasting to optimize charging arrays, solar, and energy storage resulting in maximized returns for customers, partners and investors.

EV Life, LLC

EV Life is a web platform that makes it easier for people to drive an electric car than gas. It offers car shopping tools, charging & range calculators, and an EV Climate Loan that can save drivers $200 per month on financing.

Fil₂R

Fil₂R sells plastic reducing and sustainable water filtration devices for at home use. Their  first product is a Fil2R case reusable water filters compatible with existing water filter pitchers (BRITA and PUR).

GreenTek Packaging

Hemptensils(tm) is Greentek’s line of first-in-kind compostable plasticwares made from industrial hemp and corn byproducts. Designed to offset the 40 billion plastic utensils used annually in the US that is increasing due to the pandemic, it offers a solution for the millions of pounds of stalks being wasted in the recently federally legalized industrial hemp industry.

The Hurd Co

The Hurd Co produces Agrilose™, a cost-competitive, sustainable, fiber feedstock pulp made entirely from agricultural waste. This material can be used to make sustainable fabric.

TransforMAX by hybriData

hybriData addresses potential power losses and electrical faults caused by manual evaluation of power transformers by intelligently and actively monitoring the transformer. 

Lamar IoT Inc.

LAMAR is a cold chain logistics innovator that provides a hardware-software platform that leverages flexible electronic sensors and predictive analytics to identify and mitigate temperature condition excursion damages, increase supply chain efficiency, and decreasing costs due to supply chain waste processes in real-time.

MeterLeader

MeterLeader helps curb carbon emissions from electricity use and heating by leveraging real-time data and proven social science principles to motivate people to adopt energy efficient equipment and behaviors in their homes and buildings. Users can easily create and participate in customizable energy saving challenges that are integrated with real-time energy data.

Newbury Power Solutions LLC (note: website is not yet live)

Newbury Power Solutions’ FESS (Flywheel Energy Storage System/Solution) product aims to compete against residential and small commercial Li-ion battery storage products. Flywheels do not pose a risk of fire and are not adversely affected by temperature changes. They can operate at much wider temperature ranges and are not subject to limited cycling or power degradation over time.

ONYX POWER LLC

ONYX POWER builds rugged, portable, clean, and quiet power systems that act as substitutes and replacements for gas and diesel generators.

Rewilder

Rewilder is a consumer goods company that specializes in products made out of post-industrial high-tech materials. Rewilder is building a platform for distribution called Rewilder ReSupply. The platform will give corporations, institutions, and independent businesses and designers access to upcycled high tech materials, creating a circular solution that decreases landfilled waste by introducing viable resources back into the supply chain.

Rhoman Aerospace

Rhoman Aerospace builds drone control systems that allow current electric vertical take-off and landing drones to fly farther with a single charge, and allow for new use cases to enable the commercial UAV of the future.

Rivieh

Rivieh is a smart living platform specifically designed for rental businesses. Their solution enables these businesses to offer tenants all the appeal of smart home tech minus the complexity and confusion.

Veloce Energy

Veloce Energy is developing technology to create intelligent, flexible, scalable grid edge energy networks. This IP creates solutions that address key barriers in EV charging infrastructure, distribution grid upgrades, and distributed generation connection. The first focused application is cost reduction in EV charging stations, by combining energy storage, intelligence, and streamlined installation systems with existing charger products. The second application focus is deferral or elimination of distribution grid upgrades.

Burbank, Glendale, and Pasadena Utilities Join the Transportation Electrification Partnership

Posted on September 3, 2020 by - Uncategorized, N-News, Blog, Home Featured, News Featured

LACI is pleased to announce that the local utilities for the cities of Burbank, Glendale, and Pasadena have joined the Transportation Electrification Partnership (TEP) as part of the Advisory Group. The Partnership now includes over 30 members who have committed to working individually and collectively to achieve an additional 25 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution by the time Los Angeles welcomes the 2028 Olympics.

“We appreciate LACI’s interest in involving local electric utilities, like Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena Water and Power,” said Pasadena Water and Power Electrification Program Manager Mauricio Mejia. “No doubt this partnership will help to advance the adoption of transportation electrification and zero emission good movements in the Los Angeles region.”

Burbank Water and Power (BWP) electrical engineering associate Drew Kidd stated, “BWP is excited to join LACI’s Transportation Electrification Partnership and champion the adoption of electric vehicles and help clean the air in the Greater LA region. The City of Burbank is committed to reducing greenhouse gases and improving the air quality for Burbank and surrounding communities.”

“BWP’s transportation electrification program team looks forward to engaging with the innovative members of the Partnership to make a tangible difference in the quality of our environment,” Kidd said.

“Glendale is looking forward to being involved with LACI’s Transportation Electrification Partnership’s advisory group,” said Glendale Water & Power General Manager Stephen M. Zurn.

“Our involvement will offer an opportunity for our City to demonstrate government leadership toward advancing EV infrastructure and increased EV integration in our surrounding communities. Glendale recognizes that the electrification of transportation is a crucial strategy towards achieving improved air quality and climate goals both locally and statewide. Glendale is eager to collaborate with the advisory team in achieving air quality and climate goals.”

The Partnership, alongside a coalition of 50 other organizations from 15 states, recently sent a letter to Congressional leaders asking for commitment to federal transportation electrification stimulus funding. The federal stimulus proposal of $150 billion would invest in zero emissions infrastructure that could create 2.3 million new jobs across the U.S., restart the economy, and ensure cleaner air.

“LACI is excited to work with these municipal utilities to advance the Partnership’s transportation electrification and zero emissions goods movement goals, as outlined in TEP’s Zero Emissions 2028 Roadmap,” said Matt Petersen, chair of TEP and CEO of LACI. 

LA CityView In-Depth Interview with LACI CEO Matt Petersen

Posted on August 28, 2020 by - Home Featured, LACI News, News Featured, N-News, Press Coverage




LA CityView (Channel 35) program LA Currents recently featured an in-depth conversation with LACI CEO Matt Petersen discussing our various innovative programs and efforts to build an inclusive green economy for the city of Los Angeles. Watch the full interview above.

The Hill: Electrifying transportation will jumpstart the U.S. economy and protect public health

Posted on July 30, 2020 by - N-News, Blog, Home Featured, LACI News, News Featured

As our nation continues to reel from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become clear that getting America back to work as safely and as quickly as possible is the key to surviving the current crisis and thriving in the future.

Stimulus measures under consideration in Congress have to be bold, sweeping and comprehensive if we want to create jobs, unleash innovation and protect public health as we try to restart the U.S. economy. In order to take on this once-in-a-generation cataclysm, we have to make a significant federal commitment to clean energy and zero emissions transportation.

LACI reflects on the Black Lives Matter movement

Posted on June 19, 2020 by - LACI News, News Featured

A group of protestors gather to march through the streets of Los Angeles, California

The murder of George Floyd and the righteous uprising this latest tragedy sparked across the United States and around the world has been an inflection point for all of us.  Our team at LACI has also spent a lot of time reflecting, as well as engaging in conversation and action.

With our mission of creating an inclusive green economy, equity and racial justice are central to our organization’s purpose. Whether it is our programs to empower startup founders, support local small businesses who want to increase their impact, or train individuals to be part of the green workforce, we recognize and prioritize recruiting and supporting underrepresented communities. Other LACI programs deploying zero-emissions mobility solutions in disadvantaged communities and accelerating the move to transportation electrification and clean energy will create a cleaner future in neighborhoods that have long suffered from severe air pollution.

We know that Black lives matter, they have always mattered. But after many candid conversations, all of us at LACI agree there is more we can do to tackle institutional and systemic racism.

A few weeks ago, LACI decided to honor Juneteenth as a paid holiday this year and going forward for all of our employees this important milestone in U.S. history. To encourage civic engagement, we are giving our team members two paid days a year for volunteering and community work. We are making sure our teams have the resources they need for their wellbeing during these challenging times, and started a modest yet staff-directed fund to collectively support the intersectional work of key organizations. We are also fortifying our organization’s foundational values of diversity, equity, and inclusion by bringing in outside experts to evaluate our own practices.

These are small yet important steps we have taken as an organization that takes pride in the diversity of our team, and we are focused on supporting the movement for racial equality in all aspects of society beyond our downtown campus.

At this moment, it’s hard to keep the push for climate action front of mind yet we are also reminded of the need to be relentless in tackling the inextricable links between inequality and the environment, of the importance of pursuing racial justice and climate justice together. As my friend and marine biologist Ayana Elizabeth Johnson reminded us recently in the Washington Post, we all need to and must do more on both fronts together:

“So, to white people who care about maintaining a habitable planet, I need you to become actively anti-racist. I need you to understand that our racial inequality crisis is intertwined with our climate crisis. If we don’t work on both, we will succeed at neither.”

There is so much more work we need to do individually and together, and LACI will redouble our existing efforts and explore new ways to uproot racism in our communities and our environment, to increase access to capital and markets for underrepresented founders, and ensure everyone can be part of the growing green economy in which Los Angeles and California are leading the way.

Whether you use this Juneteenth to rest or rise up, celebrate or contemplate, know that LACI will always be in the fight for freedom with you in the pursuit of racial and environmental justice.

Sincerely,


Matt

 

Blog—Young Workers Bring Cutting-Edge Zero Emissions Technology and Clean Air to Long Beach

Posted on May 8, 2020 by - LACI News

Along a deserted riverbed covered with wild grasses and low shrubs, 16 young men and women work to clear branches, debris and trash, remove invasive plants and install irrigation systems. They are restoring this stretch of the Los Angeles river to rebuild wildlife habitats, restore native species and provide space for residents to engage with nature. 

These young people are part of the Conservation Corps of Long Beach Work & Skills Program, where they work for a living wage, gain job experience and smooth their transition between community college and four-year college or between high school and full-time work. 

LACI has teamed up with the Conservation Corps of Long Beach to add an exciting element to this program—participants are taking part in a pilot program to test e-cargo bikes as an alternative to diesel-burning utility vehicles used for their work. As part of the pilot program, participants are part of a critical zero emissions pilot program to address three issues: 

1. Air quality. As an alternative to diesel-powered utility-terrain vehicles (UTVs), the e-bikes’ with cargo capacity will reduce GHG and criteria air pollutants. The pilot measures the distance traveled each day to quantify the amount of GHG emissions offset by using zero emissions transportation. The e-bikes are charged every evening by an off-grid solar PV and battery system.

2. Workforce development. The at-risk youth are encouraged to pursue green jobs and they will work with LACI and the Conservation Corps of Long Beach on training and green job opportunities.

3. The feasibility of off-grid charging. The URB-E bikes are charged in a recycled shipping container outfitted with rooftop solar and battery storage, proving that the charging hub can be a modular infrastructure.  Finding ways to more sustainably and more cost-effectively charge micro-mobility devices, whether e-bikes or scooters, is a focus of nearly every player and investor in the micro-mobility space.

The pilot program in Long Beach is one of three pilot programs—announced by Mayor Garcetti in May 2019— for clean air, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and bringing the benefits of the green economy to disadvantaged communities. The  Zero Emissions Mobility and Community Pilot Project Fund dedicated more than $400,000 for zero emissions mobility solutions, technical assistance from LACI and new technology for LACI cleantech Portfolio Companies. 

The 10 electric cargo bikes used in Long Beach are from Pasadena-based URB-E, a startup company in LACI’s Incubation Program. The URB-E cargo bikes are high-performance, foldable electric vehicles with aircraft-grade aluminum, suspension for a smooth ride, durable tires and trailer. The e-cargo bike is 35 lbs and it folds for easy storage and transport. The bike and trailer are the same currently being used by UPS for zero emissions package delivery. 

Many of the young people participating in the Long Beach pilot program live in the Lower Los Angeles River corridor, and therefore the workforce development opportunities created in conjunction with revitalization projects directly benefit local residents in their neighborhoods. Most are of color (approximately 55% African American, 36% Latino, 9% Asian). Most live in communities in North and West Long Beach, Compton, South LA or Watts and 100% are low-income. The workforce development aspect of the pilot program includes training opportunities through LACI’s workforce development programs.  

The Long Beach Pilot Project— the first of the Zero Emissions Mobility and Community Pilot Project Fund— will help us deliver creative solutions to cut pollution, spur innovation and make good on our commitment to environmental justice in every community.