Ford and Newlab to pilot new EV tech in mobility program

The Ford Motor Company and Newlab announced the five startups that will participate in the inaugural cohort of the Mobility Studio, a new program supporting the advancement of technologies, product collaborations, and business models that drive a cleaner transportation future. The program lives within Michigan Central, a new mobility innovation district being developed by Ford.

Electrification of transportation is critical and in its first year, the Mobility Studio will help companies pilot the development of a range of transformative services and technologies to spur more widespread commercial adoption of EVs. The Mobility Studio will be an ecosystem to test new technologies in a “sandbox” environment to help electrify commercial fleets across the U.S.

“Together, Ford and Newlab are building upon our nation’s goal of reducing carbon emissions and the effects of climate change by advancing commercial fleet electrification,” Ford’s Director of Charging and Energy Service for Ford Motor Company Matt Stover, says. “As Ford works to accelerate electric vehicle adoption and zero-emission transportation, the Mobility Studio is meeting the moment by identifying innovative solutions to enhance fleet management through connected data, integrate our vehicles into the energy ecosystem and advance urban charging for commercial fleets and support electric vehicle drivers at home. We are excited that we and our Ford Pro team can be linked to these potential solutions through Michigan Central – this is just the start of what this development can do not just for us, but for others working on the same challenges around the country.”

Newlab and Ford selected the following companies to participate in the Mobility Studio’s first cohort and help address major challenges faced by fleets as they consider transitioning to EVs, such as connected fleet management, supporting drivers at home, multiuse charging hubs, and vehicle-to-everything applications:

• Autofleet: Autofleet is a vehicle-as-a-service platform enabling companies, organizations, and municipalities to optimize vehicle fleet management, launch new mobility services with their existing vehicles, and plan and design strategic shifts in operations, such as electrification. The platform centrally optimizes fleet operations, breaking the dependence on driver decision making, and is designed to achieve the benefits of an autonomous fleet, starting with traditional vehicles. Autofleet has partnered with Avis-Budget Group, Zipcar, Revel and Keolis, and manages tens of thousands of vehicles in more than 12 countries.
• EVPassport: EVPassport is an electric vehicle charging company that is establishing a distributed fleet charging ecosystem incorporating multiunit dwellings through a cloud-based, application programming interface-driven hardware and software platform. Fleet owners can now pay for charging sessions at multiunit dwellings, while delivering their drivers a frictionless payment experience to charge any electric vehicle without requiring a separate app, account, or top-up balance.
• Fermata Energy: Fermata provides a complete solution that lets electric vehicles receive power from and provide power back to the grid and to buildings by integrating software, hardware options, and knowledge, turning EVs into energy storage assets that combat climate change, increase resilience, and lower cost of ownership.
• Rhombus Energy Solutions: Dearborn, Michigan-based Rhombus develops new electric grid infrastructure, energy distribution and management systems and charging solutions to speed the adoption of EVs. Rhombus builds bidirectional charging networks for electric passenger cars and high-power electric fleets – such as buses, garbage trucks and delivery vehicles – along with energy management software, power conversion, storage systems and microgrid applications to maximize the efficient, clean energy distribution capabilities of electric vehicles.
• SparkCharge: “Currently,” by SparkCharge – a charging-as-a-service platform – is a mobile, on-demand electric vehicle charging network built to make charging easy and convenient while addressing gaps in the charging infrastructure. Through the company’s mobile app, Currently, subscribers can have the charge delivered to their vehicle on the spot, utilizing SparkCharge’s portable, modular charging unit, The Roadie. Currently is operating in Dallas, Los Angeles and San Francisco, with plans to expand.

“We are excited to welcome the Mobility Studio’s first member cohort – an incredible slate of innovative companies determined to create a clean, electrified and connected future,” Newlab’s vice president of product and programs, Shaina Horowitz says. “With zero-emission transportation and electrification at a tipping point nationwide, the Mobility Studio strategically sought out innovative teams that will accelerate electric vehicle adoption and help to slash greenhouse gas emissions through the development of cutting-edge mobility solutions.”

“Our vision for Michigan Central is a thriving innovation district that brings together the diverse talent needed to solve complex mobility challenges, especially around key areas like electric vehicle technologies and business models,” Roshni Shokar, startup and entrepreneur engagement, Michigan Central says. “That includes startups, researchers and technologists who are joining the Michigan Central community through the two launched studios in collaboration with Newlab to explore, develop and test new solutions that have the potential to improve access and equity for all.”

This past spring, the Mobility Studio held an open call for companies developing technologies and novel products to apply to participate in the first cohort. Now member companies will work closely with Newlab and Ford to deploy technologies and services that help make electric vehicle commercial fleets economically and logistically viable. The startups in the first cohort will test in different locations across the country.

Michigan Central and Newlab, home to more than 800 engineers, entrepreneurs, and inventors, are working to foster an innovation ecosystem committed to helping shape the future of transportation in a way that benefits everyone. Ford’s vision for its Michigan Central development, in Detroit’s oldest neighborhood, to serve as an open platform for collaboration, drawing the best minds from around the city and around the world to co-create and test mobility solutions on real-world streets, in real-world situations.

Details about the studio can be found on the Mobility Studio webpage.