Cybersecurity is big in the energy industry.  The Department of Homeland Security identifies the energy sector as part of the United States’ critical infrastructure. Its assets, systems, and networks are considered so vital to the United States that their incapacitation or destruction would have a debilitating effect. Clean energy would be affected as would utilities like the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD),

The question of our nation’s security has been raised on multiple occasions. Because of its importance, I spoke with Antiwon Jacobs, SMUD’s Director of Cybersecurity and Chief Information Security Officer, to learn more about the importance of cybersecurity and how it might impact entrepreneurs in clean energy. There are many forms of security that SMUD finds important to which includes but is not limited to data security, supply chain security, and infrastructure security.

When it comes to new technologies SMUD works hard to make sure that all of their customers receive only the best, thus when new technologies come around they vet them carefully so they are compliant with all regulations. Companies must ensure they are compliant, especially if they are on SMUD’s side of the meter. All technologies are analyzed and reviewed to ensure they are compliant with not only SMUD’s security standard but also other relevant regulations. Companies that want to work with SMUD should visit their website-based procurement page, some small businesses can find additional assistance through SMUD’s SEED Program. 

In order to effectively prevent attacks from foreign adversaries, Director Jacobs highlighted how and why security is so important and why he and other SMUD department directors are also tasked with making sure security is a priority..  For example, SMUD’s supply chain and SMUD’s Director of Procurement consistently focus on making sure the supply chain and infrastructure is secure.  Following directives from the federal government, SMUD takes the necessary steps and actions to make certain the utility and its customers are safe from attacks on the electrical grid.

One new offering from Chris is Glidesdale Tours.  He supplies a package of cruisers to those who want to start a tour business.  One is operating now in Calistoga visiting 4 wineries.  More are on the way. He also has beefed-up versions for police departments.  They have been very popular, but hard to sell in the current climate on where police department budgets are allocated. His price tags range from $2850 to $3995 for his most popular 1000 watt and 2000 watt (48 V) models, down considerably from before.  He does have a “ludicrous” 3000 watt (96 V) version at $5850 that can reach speeds of 40 mph.  Even Chris is scared by that one, but it does have a following.  

Kacy Marrs of Marrs Cycles presented his gorgeous sit-down e-motor cycles.  These are intended for highway use.  They look a lot like racing bikes, revealing Kacy’s background and first love.  He has hand-built some one-offs for celebrities and is not really ready for production.  He is still tinkering with the design.  He uses hub motors with the battery box and electronics between the rider’s feet.  This provides a very low center of gravity.  The whole machine weighs 210 pounds, so it is like a serious motorcycle.  Not a toy.  

One clever idea is to put a cargo basket on top of the battery box, and between the rider’s legs.  My experience is that putting a grocery bag on the back or front of a regular non-electric bike creates a lot of instability.  Too high up.  Too much of a tendency to tip over at low speeds.  I like Kacy’s idea even though at first it seems odd.  

Kacy sees his standard bike as costing in the $5-6,000 range in production, with a 60-mile or so range.  That leads to the question of where to park it at a destination to recharge it.  Don’t need much more than a 110 V outlet.  Any clever innovators out there that want to tackle this? 

Kacy is clearly targeting a specialized market.  His product is like the original Tesla Roadster—pricey but attractive to those wanting a beautiful performance machine.  

Our presenter from Rumble Motors was a no-show, but we did talk about what they told us in preparation for the night.  Rumble started with a pretty aggressive e-motorcycle (the one in WestWorld), but it is betting its future on a more modest product, the Rumble Air.  It would be priced at $3,450 as a commuter and delivery bike with a 60-mile range.  It is a lightweight open frame, using a hub motor (rather than a motor between the rider’s feet) and a battery pack in the frame.  They are in the process of moving manufacturing into a Sacramento site that will serve the Western Hemisphere while maintaining their current site in Sweden to serve the European market.  Their immediate goal is to reach a combined production of 2600 bikes per year.   To date they have built and delivered 200 of the earlier models.  They have some good videos on their website that are worth a look