The California Mobility Center continues to expand its roster of clients and members, as the public-private entity focused on innovations in clean technology announced new agreements with an all-electric vehicle manufacturer and a leading national provider in renewable energy.
Oak Park, Michigan-based manufacturer Bollinger Motors Inc. is joining the center as a client, while Paso Robles-based Pearce Renewables signed on as a member. Clients are considered early-stage companies that are developing innovative products, services or solutions in clean technology sectors; whereas members are industry leaders with a vested interest in advanced mobility and California commercialization.
The new additions bring the center’s combined roster to more than 25 companies since it launched full commercial operations earlier this year.
“We are thrilled that Bollinger Motors and Pearce Renewables understand the value that the CMC brings to their commercialization goals,” said CMC Chief Operating Officer Mark Rawson in a news release.
The California Mobility Center partners with leaders in clean technology innovation, with the goal to make the Sacramento region an innovative hub in the global development of transportation technologies and manufacturing through its research center and prototype development lab.
The center offers companies access to space, tools and advisers to make their products, and participating companies can benefit from early access to new transportation startups and developing technologies. It also works with local universities and community colleges to develop a workforce for those companies as they grow.
Bollinger Motors is developing all-electric vehicles for both consumer and commercial applications. The company’s founder and CEO Robert Bollinger,said the manufacturer is looking forward to working with the CMC and its mobility ecosystem as it seeks to reduce fleet emissions through the deployment of electric-powered vehicles around the world.
Pearce Renewables is a provider of operations, maintenance and engineering services for renewable wind, solar, EV charging, and energy storage infrastructure. The company said it’s partnering with the CMC as a member to optimize opportunities across technology, decarbonization, commercialization and innovation.
“Renewable energy is one of the fastest growing energy sectors and Pearce is one of the country’s fastest growing renewable energy companies, making this partnership especially valuable for the clean mobility industry network,” said Pearce Renewables CEO Mark McLanahan in a news release.
CMC’s board of directors also added two new members: Smart Electric Power Alliance CEO Julia Hamm and Enel X – North America Head of Commercial Communications Elise Benoit.
Hamm is credited as a leader in the carbon-free energy industry who is joining the board with a deep understanding of the electric power sector and will be able to draw from relationships she has developed with other industry leaders. Benoit has designed successful business strategies for energy startups and high-growth technology companies including AutoGrid Systems Inc., ICE Energy, Opower, CivicSolar, Autodesk Inc. and Ask Jeeves, according to a CMC news release. Both Hamm and Benoit joined the board effective Aug. 1.
“Their expertise is a wonderful complement to the diverse future mobility backgrounds already presented on the board and further broadens our strong-cross-industry representation,” said CMC Board Chair Arlen Orchard in a news release.
The CMC opened in March in 25,000 square feet of space at Depot Park in South Sacramento. Some of its partners include venture capital firm EnerTech, consulting and engineering company PEM Motion and founding partner and funder Sacramento Municipal Utility District, which pledged up to $15 million in matching funds for the center.
Tenants at the center that have been announced include Minnesota-based electric work-truck chassis builder Zeus Electric Chassis Inc., Mountain View-based Amply Power and Muncie, Indiana-based DD Dannar LLC.