Davis-based startup Renerage is lowering the cost of battery storage devices dramatically by using second-life used lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles. UC Davis engineering professor Jae Wan Park and his 3-person team are focusing solely on Nissan Leaf batteries because they are passively air-cooled (most others use active liquid cooling), they use a space-saving “flat pack” battery (rather than spiral-wound ones like in the Tesla that look like oversize AA batteries), and they can be easily swapped-out. Dr. Park has designed a module to repackage the used batteries, designed more sophisticated battery management software,  and come up with strategies to extend battery life.
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Twenty-one innovations and the organizations that created them have been named finalists in the third annual Sacramento Region Innovation Awards, presented by Stoel Rives LLP, Moss Adams LLP and the Sacramento Business Journal. In addition, Wide Open Walls, a city-wide mural project, was named as the Innovation of the Year. The finalists in the Sustainability category are BoxPower Inc., for their turnkey solar microgrid containers; and Terzo Power Systems for their HEVI Hybrid Electric Power System. Eleven innovations were submitted for the Sustainability category this year -- a very good showing! The winners in all eight categories will be revealed during an awards luncheon on November 1 at the Sacramento Hilton Arden West. Use code "startupdigest" for $10 off. Get Tickets.