Background

The 1994 Air Quality Management Plan emphasizes the use of alternative fuels throughout the transportation sector as an air quality attainment strategy. Heavy-duty trucks represent four percent of the vehicle population in California, but contribute nearly 50 percent of the NOx and over 80 percent of the on-road particulate matter (as estimated by the Air Resources Board for the year 2000). Each heavy-duty truck emits about 34 times more NOx than a passenger car on a per-mile basis.

The high-NOx emissions from conventional heavy-duty diesel trucks result from the heavy loads these trucks transport. Nearly full engine power is needed to accelerate from a stop up to road speed as well as to travel up grades. NOx emissions are extremely high during these modes. Through the use of alternative fuels such as methanol, natural gas and propane, NOx emissions can be reduced by at least one half because the combustion characteristics are altered. For this reason, the AQMP cites the use of alternative-fuel trucks as a control measure.

Another potential control technology for heavy-duty trucks is the use of hybrid-electric drives. Such systems consist of an electric propulsion system, a battery pack, and an on-board engine-alternator called an auxiliary power unit (APU). The electric propulsion motor can provide good acceleration and high efficiency. In addition, electric propulsion systems can be designed to recover the energy normally lost during vehicle braking and return that energy to the battery pack (regenerative braking). The battery pack would provide all needed propulsion power and is generally fully recharged through standard electrical outlets when the truck is out of operation. The APU provides limited electrical power to extend the overall range of the hybrid-electric truck, which would otherwise be limited by the battery pack's electrical storage capacity.

The emissions from a heavy-duty hybrid-electric system should be much lower than a conventional diesel engine. The battery pack provides the high power needed for acceleration and hill climbing, while the APU supplements the power requirement. The APU engine is smaller, operates at a constant speed and load to recharge the battery pack, and can be switched off for quiet truck operation when desired. Through the use of an alternative fuel, APU emissions can be reduced even further. Overall, hybrid-electric systems have the potential to substantially reduce emissions, energy costs, maintenance costs, operational noise, and visible smoke.

Proposal

Staff has received a proposal from the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (SBCAPCD) to develop and demonstrate a propane-fueled hybrid-electric refuse truck. This project is supported by the Advanced Research Projects Administration (ARPA), the California Trade and Commerce Agency, Caltrans, the Air Resource Board, and Pacific Gas and Electric.

This project involves design, fabrication, testing and demonstration of a hybrid-electric drivetrain and refuse truck system. American Motion Systems of Ventura, California, Health Sanitation Systems of Santa Maria, California, and Bus Manufacturing, Incorporated, of Goleta, California, will take the lead in these activities. After achieving satisfactory emissions and operational performance, the truck will be demonstrated in normal refuse collection by Health Sanitation Services in Santa Barbara County and the Los Angeles County.

The proposed refuse truck will have a 300-horsepower alternating current (AC) motor, energy management system, regenerative braking, lead acid battery pack (350 volts), smart charging system, and propane-fueled APU (Cummins 6B engine). The truck will be designed to provide 150 miles range on a combination of power from the batteries and APU.

Propane was selected as the fuel for the APU because of the low emissions demonstrated by Orange County Transportation Agency (OCTA) on propane-fueled transit buses. As a result of the low APU emissions and intermittent battery-only operations, the hybrid-electric refuse truck is expected to produce 80-90 percent lower emissions than the current Cummins L-10 diesel engine it replaces.

With the proposed hybrid-electric system, the refuse truck will begin its daily operation with the battery pack fully charged from the electrical grid. The propane-fueled APU will be used during transit to maximize the battery charge level. During residential collection, the APU will be turned off to the greatest extent possible to reduce emissions, noise, smoke, and smell. After refuse collection, the truck's APU will be turned on again for transit to the landfill. The same cycle will be repeated throughout the truck's service day until the battery pack is depleted and ready for recharging overnight.

This project should help expedite the commercial development of such low-emission systems and their introduction into the Basin. In addition to reducing emissions, these vehicles have the potential for reducing fuel consumption, reducing maintenance costs, and improving the aesthetics of neighborhood refuse collection. The developed technology could also have application to certain types of buses and other trucks used in the Basin.

Sole-Source Justification

Section II, Step 3(C) of the Consultant Selection Policy identifies four provisions under which the Governing Board may award a sole-source contract: (1) cost to prepare documents exceeds the cost for consultants, (2) delay would result in the endangerment of public health, (3) services are only available from sole-source, (4) other circumstances exist identifying sole-source as in the best interest of the AQMD. This request for sole-source award is being made under provision (4).

SBCAPCD will be the contractor and manager for this project. As an agency, it has had extensive experience in successfully managing the development of battery-powered buses, natural gas buses, natural gas trucks, electric recharging infrastructure, and natural gas refueling infrastructure. This experience makes SBCAPCD exceptionally suited for this project.

SBCAPCD has developed an innovative, and unique clean-fuels project. This involves the design, fabrication, testing and inaugural demonstration of a propane-fueled hybrid-electric drivetrain and refuse truck system. Besides reducing controlled emissions, this technology will reduce visible smoke and operational noise during trash collection.

SBCAPCD has assembled an exceptionally qualified team capable of developing and demonstrating a propane-fueled hybrid-electric refuse truck for near-term implementation and air-quality benefits. The team includes: 1) American Motion Systems - A developer of induction motors and electronics for controllers, inverters and battery chargers; 2) Health Sanitation Services - A refuse collection firm that also custom-builds its refuse hauling trucks; 3) Pacific Gas and Electric - An electric utility that will provide data collection and recharging equipment for the project; and 4) Bus Manufacturing Incorporated - A bus manufacturing firm that has experience building and testing heavy-duty electric vehicles.

SBCAPCD has obtained 32 percent costsharing for this project from the team members. It has also obtained 40 percent costsharing from federal and state government entities, or a total 72 percent costsharing for this project.

For these reasons, it is in the best interest of the AQMD to award a sole-source contract to Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District.

Financial Terms

The total cost of the project is $880,000. Staff recommends that the AQMD enter into a sole-source contract with SBCAPCD in an amount not to exceed $250,000 to develop and demonstrate a propane-fueled hybrid-electric refuse truck. This represents a leveraging of $3.52 for every $1 of AQMD funds. The funding breakdown is as follows:

Direct In-kind

AQMD $250,000 -
Advanced Research
Projects Administration 200,000 -
Santa Barbara County Air
Pollution Control District 120,000 $13,000
California Trade and Commerce 75,000 -
Health Sanitation Services 55,000 55,000
Caltrans 39,000 -
Air Resource Board 33,000 -
Pacific Gas and Electric 30,000 -

Bus Manufacturing Inc. - 10,000

Totals $802,000 $78,000 $880,000

Sufficient funds are available in the Fiscal Year 1995-96 Budget of Technology Advancement to fund this project. This project was reviewed and approved by the Technology Committee on September 13, 1995. In addition, this project has been approved by the Technical Review committee established to review the allocation of SB 2297 funds.

THEREFORE IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOUR BOARD

--Authorize the Chairman to execute an agreement with the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District in an amount not to exceed $250,000 to develop and demonstrate a propane-fueled hybrid-electric refuse truck.

Respectfully,

James M. Lents, Ph.D.
Executive Officer

ACL:ARA:MXB