Detroit names winners of clean freight cities challenge

The Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF) and City of Detroit have announced three winners of TMF’s Sustainable Cities Challenge (SCC) in Detroit. The announcement marks the conclusion of the three-year competition, designed to accelerate sustainable and inclusive urban mobility solutions.

In Detroit, the challenge focused on demonstrating clean freight solutions in the Eastern Market, the cornerstone of Detroit’s food economy and a thriving commercial hub. The goal was to identify solutions that reduce fossil fuel use, lower freight costs, and support cleaner, more efficient movement of goods.

Implementation funding

Each winner previously received $180,000 in implementation funding and will now share $1.5m to scale their solutions across the city.

“Big ideas in clean freight technology have found their home in Detroit. This means cleaner air and a brighter future for residents,” said Mary Sheffield, mayor of Detroit.

“We are grateful to the Toyota Mobility Foundation for choosing Detroit out of more than 150 cities across the globe. Our residents gain cleaner air, innovators gain a city serious about sustainability, and together we embody Detroit’s legacy of innovation.”

“These solutions don’t just point to what is possible; they are already helping us move toward a cleaner, more efficient freight system that supports our community and can serve as a model for others”

Together, TMF reckons, the winning cohort marks the beginning of a cleaner, more resilient freight ecosystem in Detroit’s Eastern Market, with benefits that could extend beyond the city and region.

The Detroit winners include:

• Civilized Cycles – a Detroit-based manufacturer of ultra-light electric cargo vehicles, Civilized Cycles is scaling its patented Semi-Trike as a practical alternative to gas-powered delivery vans. Since the finalists were announced, the company has been exploring applications for its Semi-Trike, most recently selling one to Detroit-based company Grounded EVs, where it will be used as a platform to build a mini-RV
• ElectricFish Energy – a distributed energy infrastructure company advancing fast-charging EV solutions, ElectricFish recently launched 400squared, a 400 kW battery-integrated fast charger, and introduced its Turbo Charge programme to enable seamless deployment at gas stations and fleet sites. Since being named a finalist, the company has been third-party endorsed by MotorTrend
• Neology – a clean technology startup developing power systems that can produce hydrogen and electricity independently, useful in applications where clean, off-grid power is necessary. Since being selected as a finalist, Neology has conducted 10 live demonstrations across Detroit, generating approximately 300 kWh of clean energy – enough to power an average US home for 10 days – and producing approximately 20 kilograms of hydrogen from ammonia. These demonstrations serve as an example of the opportunities for validation of transportation concepts offered by the Sustainable Cities Challenge.