CLEANTECH STARTUPS TO PITCH EGSE TECHNOLOGY TO UNITED AIRLINES

On April 5, 2023, United Airlines hosted the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) for a day-long event at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), where eight startup companies participated in a Dragons’ Denlike format to pitch solutions for how the US carrier can more effectively charge and utilise electric Ground Service Equipment (eGSE). The startups were specifically asked to present options to improve eGSE charging infrastructure. The technology will go a considerable way to assist United cargo’s drive to green the apron

As United works to electrify its entire GSE fleet, having the proper charging infrastructure in place will be critical. LAX is already ahead of the curve and nearly 60% of United’s GSE fleet is electric, with charging stations at every gate.

The charging solutions pitched highlighted ways to use existing proprietary equipment such as mobile battery and charging technologies to expand the range and efficiency of battery-powered eGSE. Following the pitches, LACI moderated a panel of United experts from environmental sustainability director Betty Jurkowski; global procurement senior category manager Brett Whitten; project manager John Solon; and, strategic analysis lead analyst Jon Nestor, devoted to ‘How to do business with United.’

To help give the startups a better idea of the power needs of the current fleet, members of United’s GSE team gave brief overviews of pieces of electric equipment currently in use at LAX. Representatives from the startups had the opportunity to ask questions and see the equipment up close.

“The startups presented unique ideas for solving our eGSE challenges,” said Solon. “We’ll be following up with a number of them to explore ways United might implement their solutions.”

“A lot of these startups today don’t think about, and don’t have access to the airport space, so it’s nice we can bring the startups to our hangar to walk through and see our equipment, talk to our technicians about their challenges and the startups can look at it in a way we haven’t looked at from the airline’s perspective,” added global community engagement programmes senior manager Aaron Stash.

LACI is creating an inclusive green economy for the people of Los Angeles by unlocking innovation and working with startups to accelerate the commercialisation of clean technologies, transforming markets through partnerships with policymakers, innovators, and market leaders in transportation, energy and sustainable cities. The company is enhancing communities through workforce development, pilots and other programmes.

“LACI is our original Clean Tech incubator partner, and we’ve been working together for five years,” said Stash. “United supports organisations like LACI to make sure there’s a connection to clean tech that also supports diverse communities. The startups LACI focuses on are really at the forefront of that.”

For United’s GSE and Facilities teams, the event couldn’t have come at a better time.

“As we roll out more electric vehicles at our hubs, we know we have a variety of challenges when it comes to charging the equipment,” said GSE and facilities managing director Paul Joklik. “We’re grateful to have partnerships with organisations like LACI to look to for subject matter expert guidance on our path.”

The participating startups included:

Automotus

Automotus has built first-of-its-kind automated curb management solutions to help reduce emissions, congestion and safety hazards.

ChargeNet Stations

ChargeNet Stations is building the most comprehensive EV charging network in the US. ChargeNet’s Stations software platform makes it a seamless, superior EV charge up experience.

ElectricFish

ElectricFish is a climate tech company building distributed microgrid energy storage XFC (Extreme Fast Charging) stations powered by software. ElectricFish’s patented, turnkey energy storage solutions bring unprecedented convenience to the EV charging experience while also supporting energy resilience in local communities, all with 100% renewable energy, eliminating the transportation sector’s carbon footprint.

Evolectric

Evolectric has dedicated themselves to power fleet operations with clean, efficient and safe electrification solutions. Evolectric partners with businesses to create comprehensive electrification strategies and deliver unique electrified mobility battery solutions to transportation, industrial and commercial segments across the US and emerging markets. Evolectric’s CircularEV solutions renew the life of existing commercial vehicles on the road by upgrading them to be smart and 100% electric.

Humble

Humble makes and rents user-friendly electric carts that provide temporary and remote clean power unlike the usual dirty and loud diesel-fuelled vehicles. Through a LACI-funded pilot, Humble recently tested and validated their first software platform integration that offers a safer, more efficient way to monitor battery safety remotely, receive notifications of charge status in real-time and co-ordinate management and charging using the cloud.

Microgrid Labs

Microgrid Labs Inc (MGL) is a consulting and software company specialising in commercial fleet electrification and microgrids. MGL services range from initial assessment, feasibility studies, modelling, simulation and optimisation to support during the implementation and operations phase.

Relyion Energy, Inc.

Relyion aims to solve the problem of the expected, exponential increase in unusable electric vehicle or lithium ion batteries. Relyion Energy is repurposing retired EV batteries to enable longer and sustainable use of Li-ion batteries.