- Ten semi-finalists chosen to receive $3 million to participate in Toyota Mobility Foundation’s Sustainable Cities Challenge Detroit
- Over 70 high-quality entries submitted from across the globe as part of call to innovators launched in May 2024
- Semi-finalists will be awarded $50k implementation grants to further develop their clean freight innovations for Eastern Market
The Toyota Mobility Foundation announced the selection of ten semi-finalists for the Sustainable Cities Challenge, a global competition designed to develop innovative solutions for Detroit’s iconic Eastern Market. Developed in partnership with Challenge Works and the World Resources Institute, the Challenge invited global innovators to propose strategies to decrease fossil fuel use and reduce freight operations costs in Eastern Market. The selection process for semi-finalists was facilitated by Challenge Works in partnership with Toyota Mobility Foundation, Michigan’s Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, the City of Detroit, and industry experts.
This two-stage, three-year $9 million global initiative, launched in May 2024, attracted 72 submissions from around the world. Of the total prize pool, $3 million is dedicated specifically to Detroit-focused solutions, all funded by the Toyota Mobility Foundation. The City of Detroit competed globally to bring the Toyota Mobility Foundation’s Sustainable Cities Challenge to Detroit. In partnership with Eastern Market Partnership, the initiative aims to source innovative solutions for clean freight. Detroit was one of three cities selected as a top awardee.
The Toyota Mobility Foundation launched the Sustainable Cities Challenge with an aim to fund solutions for mobility barriers, foster city-innovator collaborations, and host a global capacity-building academy.
“It’s been a year in the making, and we are thrilled to celebrate the Sustainable Cities Challenge Detroit’s top ten semi-finalists,” said Tim Slusser, Chief of the City of Detroit’s Office of Mobility Innovation (OMI). “We’re excited to continue working with Toyota in the next stages of Sustainable Cities Challenge Detroit and proud that we were chosen as one of the selected cities for Toyota Mobility Foundation to make this investment.”
The Challenge entries were selected based on their potential to reduce fossil fuel use, introduce innovative solutions for Eastern Market freight, demonstrate business adoption potential, showcase mature technology, as well as exhibit scalability and strong delivery capacity.
The semi-finalists are:
- Automotus: Their solution will use AI solar cameras to automate the management of loading and unloading areas around Detroit’s Eastern Market to reduce traffic and emissions.
- BizFleets: Their solution will aggregate vehicle data from multiple sources into a single system to evaluate the use of the vehicles and how to increase efficiency and sustainability.
- Civilized Cycles: Their electric cargo bikes can replace gas-powered vehicles at Detroit’s Eastern Market and deliver produce to local businesses, reducing pollution and costs.
- Ecosphere Organics: Their solution aims to utilize organic waste conversion units at key food production locations in Eastern Market, converting food waste into valuable materials while collecting real-time data to optimize waste logistics and reduce fossil fuel consumption.
- ElectricFish Energy, Inc.: Their solution is a battery-integrated fast electric vehicle charger, which would charge electric vehicles, minimize peak energy costs, and provide backup energy for on-site Eastern Market facilities.
- Emissionless: By utilizing software and electric trucks to provide faster, more efficient, zero-emission freight operations, Emissionless aims to decarbonize ground freight transportation.
- Interplai: Their route optimization software will provide an opportunity for collaborative logistics for the operators of Detroit’s Eastern Market.
- Joule Labs, Inc.: Their system leverages cutting-edge automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence, to deliver flexible and scalable automated charging systems and services, meeting the needs of autonomous and conventional electric fleet operators.
- Neology: This system enables clean, on-demand hydrogen production, ideal for powering fuel-cell solutions at construction sites, remote heavy industries, and other off-grid applications.
- Orange Sparkle Ball: Their solution will use a data-driven micrologistics platform to organize first and last mile freight logistics in and out of Eastern Market.
To learn more about each company and their proposals, visit https://sustainablecitieschallenge.org/detroit.
Interplai, an entrepreneurial services client of Ann Arbor SPARK, has leveraged a range of resources to accelerate its growth. Through SPARK’s support, Interplai has benefited from digital marketing interns who enhanced its online presence, business consulting to refine strategies, assistance in securing office space, and access to expert consultants for patent searches, drafting, and market research. These tailored services have been instrumental in advancing Interplai’s innovative solutions and positioning the company for long-term success.
“The projects these innovators will develop will underscore Michigan’s mission to build a more efficient, equitable, and environmentally responsible transportation ecosystem,” said Justine Johnson, Chief Mobility Officer of the State of Michigan.
Vince Keenan, Head of Innovation Engagement for OMI and Detroit’s project lead, said, “Eastern Market is the heart of Detroit’s food distribution network and the partnership between the City, State, Eastern Market, Toyota Mobility Foundation and these innovators is the foundation of our commitment to push for clean freight.”
Semi-finalists will each receive a $50,000 implementation grant from the Sustainable Cities Challenge to support the refinement and localization of their proposed solutions for Detroit’s Eastern Market. In addition, they will participate in the Sustainable Cities Challenge’s Innovator Academy, which offers resources and expert guidance to advance their initiatives. Further funding opportunities will be made available to finalists in Q2 2025, contingent upon the progress and impact of their work.
“The selection of ten semi-finalists for the Sustainable Cities Challenge Detroit marks an exciting step forward,” said Ryan Klem, director of programs at the Toyota Mobility Foundation. “These teams are tackling challenges in Eastern Market, an iconic and essential part of Detroit’s infrastructure, with innovative solutions that will benefit local businesses and the environment. We look forward to supporting their efforts as they develop approaches that could serve as a model for cities worldwide.”
Director of Cities and Societies at Challenge Works, Kathy Nothstine, said, “With ten outstanding semi-finalists now selected, Detroit is ready to embrace fresh ideas from innovators around the world. Detroit has already made strides in creating a more efficient transportation network, and these teams offer promising solutions to further reduce fossil fuel consumption and streamline freight operations in Eastern Market, ensuring year-round reliability for the market and its vendors.”
Eastern Market has been a cornerstone of Detroit for over 150 years. “It’s inspiring to see ten semi-finalists now working toward solutions that will support its future,” said Ben Welle, director of Integrated Transport and Innovation at WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities. “Innovation is essential for cities to adapt and thrive, and the solutions from this Challenge can help not only Detroit but serve as a model for sustainable city logistics everywhere.”
The Sustainable Cities Challenge is funded by the Toyota Mobility Foundation and has been designed in partnership with Challenge Works and the World Resources Institute. Challenge Works is a global leader in the design and delivery of open innovation challenges that mobilize innovative thinkers to solve pressing problems and unlock change. World Resources Institute is a global research organization which works with partners to develop practical solutions that improve people’s lives and ensure that nature can thrive.
To find out more, visit the Sustainable Cities Challenge website.
About the Sustainable Cities Challenge
Launched by the Toyota Mobility Foundation, the Sustainable City Challenge is a two-stage, three-year $9 million global opportunity for cities and innovators. The Sustainable Cities Challenge will be delivered over two stages:
- Stage 1: Call to cities The Challenge sought cities who wish to host City Challenges in 2024 – 2025. In November 2023, ten shortlisted cities received a range of capacity building support to help them understand the issue they want to solve and attract innovators to provide solutions. By May 2024, three cities were selected to host City Challenges to find solutions for local mobility challenges.
- Stage 2: Call to Innovators via 3 City Challenges Working with the host cities, the Sustainable Cities Challenge team supported by designing local City Challenges which launched between May and June 2024. Each City Challenge offers up to $3million in funding to innovators.
Host Cities, in collaboration with the Toyota Mobility Foundation’s Sustainable Cities Challenge team, held open calls for entries from innovators through their City Challenge. Finalists were selected by the Sustainable Cities Challenge team to test their solutions in 2024-2025. In 2026, final awards will be given to winners in each host city to continue to implement and grow their solutions.
To learn more about Sustainable Cities Challenge Detroit, click here.
