ESmart objectives include developing advanced technology, prototypes, demonstrations, and innovative products in the areas of smart grids, microgrids, grid-connected electric vehicles and autonomous electric vehicles, demand response, renewable energy - including solar and wind - integration, battery energy storage system (BESS) integration, smart appliances, smart homes and buildings, Internet of Things (IOT) and Distributed Energy Resources (DER). This will enable achievement of a Modern Grid with greater amounts of solar and wind renewable energy resources, larger numbers of electric vehicles and batteries for energy storage, a more efficient, resilient, reliable and safe electric power grid, and one that serves the needs of the 21st Century customer.

The activities at ESmart would leverage the research, innovations and infrastructure resulting from over $15 million dollars of funded R&D to UCLA over the last five years through a variety of grants from the following: UCLA's participation in the $120M funded DOE Smart Grid Regional Demonstration grant to Los Angeles Department of Water and Power in which UCLA is one of the partners; Korea Institute for Energy Research; Electric Power Research Institute; California Energy Commission; and various industry partners and donors.

• Terry Brungard, Efficiency Solutions Engineering Manager, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP)
• Olof Bystrom, Manager, Energy Research and Development Department, Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD)
• Colton Ching, Senior Vice President, Planning & Technology, Hawaiian Electric Company
• Kevin Dasso, Vice President, Electric Asset Management, Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E)
• Adrienne Grier, Manager, Smart Grid Progams, ComEd
• Brian Horton,CondEd
• Lee Krevat, Director, New Ventures, Sempra Renewables
• Mary Ann Piette, PIER Demand Response Research Center, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL)
• Robert Sherick, Principal Manager - Advanced Technology, Southern California Edison (SCE)
• Jordan Smith, Engineering Manager, Southern California Edison (SCE)
• Jeffrey Stewart, Director Energy Business Development, Engineering Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)
• David Wollman, Deputy Director, Smart Grid and Cyber-Physical Systems Program Office, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
• Dan Ton, Program Manager, Office of Electricity Delivery & Energy Reliability, Smart Grid Research & Development, United States Department of Energy (DOE)

• Southern California Edison
• Pacific Gas and Electric
• Sempra Gas and Energy
• Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
• Sacramento Municipal Utility District
• Consolidated Edison
• Commonwealth Edison
• Hawaiian Electric Company or HECO (in discussions)

• National Institute of Standards and Technologies

• Lawrence Berkeley National Labs
• Lawrence Livermore National Labs
• National Renewable Energy Labs