By GREGORY ZELLER //
A transportation-tech disruptor spreading electric micro-shuttle services across the nation – including several stops on Long Island – has claimed a share of Albany’s $85 million Clean Transportation Prizes.
New York City-based Circuit Transit – a.k.a. Rider Circuit, or most commonly just Circuit – earned one of four $7 million grand prizes in the state competition’s Electric Mobility Challenge. The New York State Energy and Research Development Authority awards program, presented in partnership with the NYS Department of Public Service and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, pours millions into proposed transportation solutions that enhance clean mobility and reduce harmful emissions.
Circuit is playing way past “proposed.” Founded in 2011 by East Hampton natives Alexander Esposito and James Mirras, the “micro-transit” specialist aims to reduce traffic congestion and otherwise improve life on Earth with a fleet of net-zero electric shuttles – a first-mile, last-mile and every-cool-mile-in-between solution encouraging day-trippers, shoppers and commuters to park once and leave the site-to-site driving to someone else.
Alexander Esposito: Sensing opportunities.
The shuttles operate year-round in warmer climates and seasonally in others, with Circuit’s 100-percent electric vehicles – picture a two-dimensional minivan drawn by a kindergartner, inflated enough to comfortably seat eight – making the rounds in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Florida, Illinois, Colorado, Texas and California.
With seasonal routes through East Hampton, South Hampton and Montauk, Circuit qualified as a Long Island winner in NYSERDA’s Clean Transportation Prizes competition – the only Island qualifier among 10 statewide grand-prize winners in three categories.
In addition to the four $7 million winners in the Electric Mobility Challenge, there were three $10 million grand-prize winners in the Clean Neighborhood Challenge and three $8 million grand-prize winners in the Electric Truck & Bus Challenge. That combined $82 million haul is on top of $3 million in prizes awarded to 17 finalists in January in Phase One of the Clean Transportation Prizes contest.
Governor Kathy Hochul called the competition “the most significant investment yet in clean transportation for historically underserved communities in New York State.”
“Improving access to clean-mobility options, electrifying trucks and buses and supporting projects that reduce air pollution modernizes the way residents and visitors access community services, recreation and work opportunities while creating jobs, improving health and reducing the impacts of climate change,” Hochul said.
The Clean Transportation Prize continues an impressive hot streak for 11-year-old Circuit, which closed a successful Series A funding round in September. Tribeca Venture Partners led that $11 million charge, with a national array of boosters – the NYC-based Citi Impact Fund, the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator and several others – joining in.
After closing that hefty round, Circuit – which generates revenue through on-vehicle advertising and service contracts with municipalities and private developers – announced it would use the capital influx to enhance its EV technology and expand into more markets, in response to what coufounder and CEO Esposito called “a huge uptick in demand.”
“James and I have been fortunate to grow the business with our amazing team and customers,” Esposito said. “We’ve seen … opportunities as cities and developers pay closer attention to congestion, emissions and efficient mobility solutions.”
