SACRAMENTO STATE
California Mobility Center
During the spring 2019 semester at Sacramento State , a dainty shuttle named “ Olli ” drifted around campus , toting students between Yosemite and Amador halls . The eight-seater operated much like a regular shuttle — but without a driver .
Sac State and the surrounding region will see more electric , autonomous vehicles like Olli in the next few years , including those built and tested at the newly unveiled California Mobility Center . Temporarily located at Depot Park on Fruitridge Road in Sacramento , CMC provides resource-based assistance to connect early-stage future mobility companies with industry-leading members .
The idea for CMC was sparked by the SMUD-funded clean air feasibility study completed in 2018 , says Arlen Orchard , former CEO of SMUD ( he retired in 2020 ), chair of CMC ’ s board of directors and strategic advisor for innovation investment firm EnerTech Capital . During his tenure at SMUD , Orchard collaborated with the City of Sacramento and the Greater Sacramento Economic Council to create an innovation program for cleaner city air , with ambitions to limit carbon output and support innovation — and the California Mobility Center was born .
Within the next few years , a 25-acre plot of land just south of the Sac State campus will be built up into The Hub : Sacramento State Research Park . The Hub will be the new home of CMC , complete with a headquarters building , factory and test track for electric and autonomous vehicles , Orchard says .
The nonprofit CMC aims to foster rapid commercialization of products by offering resource-based assistance to innovators of all kinds in the product , service and technology sectors . By pairing these innovators with industry professionals and service providers in the region , prototypes can be transformed into products ready for commercialization in the state and beyond .
“ Sacramento influences innovation in California ,” says Jonathan Bowman , Sac State ’ s CFO and vice president of administration . Bowman has served as a board member for CMC since its beginnings in 2019 . “ There is ready access to policy leaders . The Mobility Center concept is a collaborative effort that will create economic development and jobs and have a direct impact for the workforce in the Sacramento area .”
CMC offers opportunities , including partnerships and internships , for Sac State students of all degrees and focuses . Looking forward , Bowman says this could shape programs offered on campus . “ By seeing these emerging technologies come out , we can cater developmental programs and degrees to those needs ,” he says .
Bowman says CMC will pair well with the university ’ s Carlsen Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship to assist anyone with an idea , whether they are an artist or an engineer , and turn it into something tangible .
— Jessica Hice
In the past , academic institutions often saw themselves as separate from the community , but now we see ourselves as part of the community .
Yvonne Harris Associate Vice President , Offices of Research , Innovation and Economic Development
SMUD CEO Paul Lau , a Sac State grad , emphasizes that the Carlsen Center goes beyond teaching basic business . “ It ’ s a prototype factory where we try out new business models and see how they will pan out for compliance and regulatory issues in the future , such as climate change ,” he says .
Lau notes that the school ’ s influence is widespread in the electric utility industry . “ Sac State is one of only two schools in California that offers a degree in Power Engineering ,” he says — a degree that essentially provides the skills to run an electric utility . As a result , top executives of electric utilities statewide are Sac State grads . “ You also find a lot of Sac State grads working for me or at the Energy Commission ,” Lau says .
But perhaps the most far-reaching Sac State initiative with international investment potential is the California Mobility Center , a research and development partnership with SMUD to accelerate development of electric transportation , which opened at Depot Park in Sacramento in early 2021 . Its $ 5 million research facility will be constructed on the Sac State campus within three years and will serve as “ a practical pipeline in tune with the industry and accelerate private investment in a rapidly changing ecosystem ,” Lau explains . In addition , he says , “ Sac State will reshape the curriculum to get the workforce we need for future transportation .”
Once completed , the center will be incorporated into a new Office of Clean Energy and Mobilization Technology , which will make Harris ’ job title a bit longer . But it won ’ t change her job as a matchmaker between students and regional business .
“ Businesses want to hire students yesterday and academics explain that the students will be available next semester ,” Harris says . So it ’ s her job to help Sac State make decisions at the speed of business — and make sure the Office of Economic Development is their first stop on campus .
Bill Sessa has been a freelance writer for Comstocks since 2013 . He has received many awards for his writing about the automotive industry and motorsports for national publications including Speed Sport , Autoweek and Performance Racing Industry magazines and for the Napa Valley Register .
28 comstocksmag . com | 2021