In case you missed it, Zack Spencer of NZT Group joined the CleanStart Perspective and delved into how material science is accelerating the energy transition. At NZT Group they are working on groundbreaking advancements in energy storage and materials science that are not just innovative but pivotal for the clean energy transition. They are continuing to work on cutting-edge flywheel technology and its potential to outperform traditional energy storage methods, offering a glimpse into a sustainable future with reduced maintenance, lower costs, and higher efficiency. We profiled the technology they worked on in the past at SPIN storage systems.

NZT has also been providing advancements in gas storage, particularly for natural gas and hydrogen, focusing on improving energy density by safely storing fuels at high pressure. He mentions the importance of materials in these technologies, with a focus on composites for their strength, durability, and efficiency, especially in high-pressure environments.

Materials play a crucial role in hydrogen storage. Spencer shared the effectiveness of storing hydrogen depends significantly on material properties, particularly due to hydrogen’s small molecule size and high permeability. Composites, especially those with carbon fiber, are preferred for their strength, lightweight, and ability to handle high pressures without significant degradation. They overcome the limitations of metals, which can suffer from issues like crack propagation under high pressure. Innovative materials solutions are therefore essential for developing efficient, safe, and cost-effective hydrogen storage systems, as they directly impact the energy density and integrity of storage units.

The conversation covers the broader implications of these technologies for clean energy transitions, including their potential to reduce CO2 emissions, improve energy efficiency, and provide cleaner fuel alternatives. NZT Group and Spencer are looking for ways to collaborate on the energy transition.

You can watch the full discussion here.

When you think of electric vehicles, what do you think of? Teslas? Rivians? Quiet sedans owned by the few that can currently afford them? That doesn’t connect with the diverse car culture of Sacramento today. The intersection of low-rider culture and the burgeoning field of electric vehicles (EVs) presents a unique opportunity for job creation and community engagement. ShaVolla and Carlos Rodriguez, members of the Duke’s Car Club Sacramento Chapter, has a different vision, and connected with Jaime Lemus Division Manager at Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, to make something cool. EV Access thru EV Lowriding is an initiative to electrify a lowrider vehicle isn’t just a technological innovation; it’s a culturally grounded project that aims to bridge the gap between traditional automotive customization and the future of transportation.

The Cultural Significance of Lowriders

Lowriders are more than just cars; they are rolling canvases that reflect the identities, families, and histories of their owners. For many, these vehicles are heirlooms, passed down through generations, encapsulating stories and memories. They’re not merely modes of transport but symbols of community, artistry, and pride. In the very essence of their customization — the detailed paintwork, the intricate hydraulics, the polished chrome — lies a legacy of innovation and personal expression.

The Electric Revolution in the Lowrider Community

The advent of EVs is revolutionizing the automotive industry. However, there’s a valid concern within the lowrider community about being left behind in this shift. Jaime Lemus’s project, inspired by conversations with figures like Savala Rodriguez, is a proactive step towards ensuring that this doesn’t happen. By creating an electric lowrider, the project not only keeps the community at the forefront of automotive technology but also pays homage to the spirit of customization that defines lowriding.

Job Opportunities and Skill Development

The electrification of lowriders opens up a spectrum of job opportunities. It requires a blend of traditional automotive skills and modern technology, creating roles for digital technicians who can code and operate laptops as well as for those skilled in bodywork, welding, and the mechanical aspects of car modification. This unique combination of skills can generate job opportunities that honor the past while looking to the future.

Educational Pathways and Training

To equip individuals with these hybrid skills, the EV Lowrider project includes working with SAVA, Sacramento Academic and Vocational Academy, developing a curriculum focused on EV retrofitting. This program is not just about job training; it’s about creating a pathway for young enthusiasts and existing professionals to adapt to new technologies while keeping the essence of the lowrider culture intact. It also opens doors for those who may not be interested in traditional four-year college degrees, providing an alternative route to gainful employment and entrepreneurship.

Community Empowerment and Inclusion

One of the most compelling aspects of this initiative is its potential to empower communities. By involving local business owners, such as those on Franklin Boulevard with auto body shops, the project ensures that the economic benefits of this technological transition are distributed within the community. Furthermore, the project could help dismantle the stigma often associated with government programs, demonstrating a tangible benefit to engaging with such initiatives.

Intergenerational Collaboration

The project is also an exercise in intergenerational collaboration. The experience and wisdom of older car modifiers blend with the tech-savvy insights of the younger generation, creating a learning environment that is both dynamic and inclusive. This ensures that the legacy knowledge within the community is not lost but is instead enriched with new technological perspectives.

Future Prospects and Community Decisions

The decision on which vehicles to electrify next is community-driven, emphasizing a democratic approach to technological advancement. Whether it’s a classic truck, a luxurious sedan, or an iconic hot rod, the community’s input is paramount. This process not only fosters community engagement but also ensures that the vehicles represent the people they serve.

The electrification of lowriders is not just a project about cars; it’s about respecting tradition while embracing innovation. It’s about creating jobs, building skills, and ensuring that a vibrant culture continues to thrive in an electric future. As this initiative unfolds, it promises to serve as a blueprint for how communities can navigate technological change without losing the essence of their cultural heritage.

In the clean energy transition, the toughest challenges are in moving the transportation sector away from petroleum fuels, and within that the hardest nut to crack is likely to be making heavy duty trucks switch to zero emission vehicles.  This has been one of our favorite topics in looking at potential business opportunities for entrepreneurs.  See our recent internal discussions and our last blog on charging.

We tackled the topic again in our MeetUp on Nov. 2.  We had presentations from Tim Taylor, Vice President and Co-director of the Sacramento Clean Cities Coalition, and Orville Thomas, the incoming CEO of the California Mobility Center.  They stimulated a lively discussion.  You can view the entire session in our video on YouTube. You can also view the highlight version.

Here were some of the key points:

1. Through clever load management and system optimization we can squeeze more out of the existing electrical system to feed EVs, through things like bi-directional charging, managing the load from chargers so that they do not exceed available supplies, and putting battery-buffers on chargers.  (We have seen the last approach from companies like FreeWire and ElectricFish).
2. But any significant conversion of the transportation to EVs will overwhelm the available supply.  On an energy consumption basis, the transportation sector now based on fuels is more than twice the size of the electrical system.  At some point, dramatic additions to the electricity supply will be needed.
3. The choices seem to be to add to the general supply by adding more carbon-neutral power generation and transmission assets, put generation adjacent to the locations where EV charging demand is the greatest (especially for heavy duty vehicles) in the form of microgrids, or do more with on-board hydrogen zero emissions power generators, with the need to add to hydrogen production and distribution assets.

1. The recent proposed rule from CARB would create a gradual increase in the conversion of heavy-duty trucks to zero emissions by 2042, but it is still aggressive.  A significant concession is that it would apply only to fleets of more than 50 vehicles and only after existing vehicles have reached their lifetime.  With so many tractors owned by individuals or in small fleets, the rule would affect a much smaller number of trucks.  But the number affected is still huge.
2. If the microgrid approach is used for heavy-duty charging stations, the question remains as to what will power it.  Given the concentration of demand at such sites, it is unlikely that solar or wind alone will be sufficient.  Some form of engine-generator will likely be required and that raises the question of what fuel it will use.  The politics seem to be against using any carbon-containing fuel even if it is a renewable fuel that could be shown to be carbon neutral.  It would also need to have minimal NOx emissions.  There are some big engines that would meet this need but they are expensive.  Locating them so the microgrid could be used for other purposes, like powering a nearby industrial facility, may reduce the sting of the cost, but raise issues of conflict with the local utility.  There may be ways to get the utilities on-side and make them part of the solution.  We also discussed small scale nuclear plants as an option.
3. The whole range of challenges may be part of the new mission of the California Mobility Center.  Orville Thomas is willing to widen the scope of what the CMC could do, including a broader definition of “mobility” to include more options for disadvantaged communities.
4. He is pretty certain that the CMC will be moving on or near the Sac State campus and be administered by the university.  His vision includes a new $500 million complex on campus near Ramona Road, including a new building for the College of Engineering and Computer Science.  At this point, there is no funding for such a vision, but he thought there were good prospects and a lot of enthusiasm to get it done.
5. Both presenters emphasized the need for a larger trained workforce to address all the challenges.  Orville mentioned the possibility of an advanced degree program in power for the mobility sector.

This was a very rich discussion, and it highlights a lot of opportunities for innovation and new businesses.  We will be carrying on this whole discussion in future MeetUps and on our Perspectives webcasts.  Keep an eye out for future announcements from CleanStart.

Does this discussion give you a good business idea you would like to explore?  Set up a call with us and we will help you.

Big Charging Station for Electric Trucks Near Sacramento Airport

$34 USDOT million grant, 25 MW, Charge big rig in 20-50 minutes, developed by WattEV

Revolutionizing Energy Efficiency in Commercial Buildings with Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the way energy is managed in commercial buildings.

Here’s a shocker:  About 30% of the energy used in commercial buildings is simply wasted.  While billions of dollars have been spent by building owners to install energy management systems to cut waste, these systems are not well-utilized because they are not “tuned” to get the best results.  So, commercial buildings represent a huge potential source of carbon emissions reductions and cost savings that is largely untapped.  Recognizing this potential, BrainBoxAI is applying artificial intelligence to existing buildings to improve their energy and emissions performance dramatically.

In our March 7 Perspectives webcast, Blake Standen, CEM, CMVP Standen (Global Senior Manager of Sales), and Bob Sobczak (Senior Director of Sales for California, based in Cameron Park) made a great presentation on what BrainBox AI can do.  Here is the bottom line:

• 40% reduction in carbon footprint
• 25% reduction in HVAC costs
• 60% improvement in occupant comfort (no hot and cold spots, adequate air changes, etc.)
• 50% improvement in equipment life

BrainBox does not need to install new equipment.  It just adds a layer of control to the equipment already there. At least for now.

Only offering a commercial product since 2019, BrainBox has grown to 150 employees and serves a global market with approaching 200 million square feet worldwide.  They are based in Montreal where they found a pool of AI programmer talent but now have targeted California for a serious push after focusing in the US mostly on the East Coast.  BrainBox is getting to market in three ways:  Direct sales to building owners, through system installers and integrators that adopt the BrainBox product, and with large OEMs that provide the building energy systems.

As the product stands, it allows buildings to participate in utility VPP programs adding to grid resources, as well as exploiting rate signals to achieve even more savings for the building owner. A cellular network and a VPN provide the communication architecture.  Future additions could add predictive maintenance, for which some temperature and vibration sensors may need to be added, along with an expansion into other types of buildings.  It wasn’t discussed, but systems like this could be easily adapted to manage EV chargers in building parking lots as part of the overall VPP scheme.

BrainBox has raised $45+ million to date to propel its launch into the commercial market and is now planning to raise more to keep that momentum going. Their largest investor is ABB and they have an impressive slate of other investors and partners.  They haven’t started managing buildings in our region yet, with Sobczak being added to the team only last November.  This is probably pretty fertile territory for them.

Starting Feb. 17, CalSEED is opening a window to accept applications for Cohort 6 awards. The window closes March 5. Joy Larson went over the new features of this program with two of her colleagues (Lindsey Roark of CalSEED and Sneha Ayyagari of the Greenlining Institute) at our Perspectives event on January 31. It was a very informative session and it is all queued-up for you on our LinkedIn channel or as a condensed video on our website. This has been the single most-effective program for getting small grants to innovators to develop their ideas. We have seen 8 companies in our region get funding this way. The money is available to prove-up a concept ($150,000) and then for developing the most promising ones in a second phase ($450,000).
Here are the basic things you need to know:
1. They have limits on eligibility: You need to be working on a concept at an early stage (Technology Readiness Level 2, 3, or 4), you have raised less than $1 million in private money, and your innovation is based in California and will benefit California ratepayers.

2. You must have an innovation that fits in one of the 19 categories of specified technology areas.

3. Applications are done in two stages. The first is to fill out the short screening application with the basics of your idea. It should take you about an hour. CalSEED then invites those that pass its first review to make a submit a full application for the second stage. That application may take 3-10 hours to fill out. It is a serious deal. Those applications need to be submitted between March 10 and 28.

4. About 28 applications will be awarded the $150K grants. Typically, 200-300 applications are initially submitted, and less than half are invited to the second round.

5. Getting an award opens the door to a whole lot of other resources—participation in the CleanTech Open, access to expert mentors, training classes, and showcase events. The benefits are greater than just the dollar-value of the award.

6. A key question on the application is how your innovation could advance energy equity and social impact. This is a tough question for most applicants to answer, but it is worth significant points in the scoring of the applications. CalSEED is offering help from the Greenlining Institute to define what could be included in an application to address these concerns. See page 30 in the full Application Manual for a description on what needs to be submitted.

If you want to give CalSEED a try, we urge you to reach out to us and schedule a session during our office hours to let us give you some advice to improve your chances. We have been doing this for the last 3 Cohorts and it is working well.