Proposal:
Execute a Contract to Cost-Share Heavy-Duty Vehicle Chassis Dynamometer Testing to Improve the Current Emissions Inventory and to Analyze the Impact of Clean Fuels
Synopsis:
The current State model may not accurately reflect on-road heavy-duty vehicle emissions or the impact of these vehicles on the inventory. In this proposal, in-use heavy-duty vehicles of various weight classes and fuel types will be recruited for emissions testing. Data collected will be used to improve the on-road heavy-duty vehicle emissions inventory, and to assess the benefits of clean fuels. Staff recommends executing an agreement with the California Air Resources Board in an amount not to exceed $200,000 to cost-share this $850,000 project.
Committee:
Technology, February 13, 1996, Recommended for Approval
Recommended Action:
Authorize the Chairman to execute a contract with the California Air Resources Board in an amount not to exceed $200,000 to develop a database to improve the current on-road, heavy-duty vehicle emission inventories, subject to adoption and inclusion of the Technology Advancement Plan in the Clean Fuels Program.
James M. Lents, Ph.D.
Executive Officer
MAN:CNA
Background
Light-duty vehicle emissions control technology has been very effective in reducing emissions. Therefore, the relative contribution of other vehicle classes to overall emissions in the South Coast Air Basin has increased. For example, the small population of heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) is the second highest contributor to the on-road nitrogen oxides (NOx) inventory. HDVs, especially those powered by diesel fuel, are also responsible for the greatest contribution of exhaust particulate matter (PM) to the on-road mobile source inventory.
In the current State motor vehicle emissions model, EMFAC7F, HDV emission rates are based on engine, rather than chassis dynamometer testing. In engine dynamometer testing, a weight-specific conversion factor that is a function of fuel density, engine fuel consumption, and vehicle fuel economy is used to convert engine dynamometer-based emissions values from grams per brake horsepower hour to grams per mile. The grams per mile emissions rates are also adjusted to account for tampering and mal-maintenance of emissions-related components that have occurred in use. With chassis dynamometer testing, grams per mile emissions values are directly determined.
Proposal
The California Air Resources Board (ARB) intends to release a request for proposals (RFP) to develop a database to improve the current on-road HDV emission inventories. In this project, HDVs (excluding buses) of various weight classes and fuel types will be tested over different transient cycles for hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), NOx, carbon dioxide (CO2), and PM exhaust emissions. There is considerable concern regarding the differences in emissions data gathered from an engine dynamometer, rather than a chassis dynamometer. In addition, since the engine dynamometer tampering and mal-maintenance adjustment factors were obtained from work done by the ARB in 1987, there is also concern that these factors may not accurately reflect current on-road emissions and, therefore, the emissions impact of HDVs on the inventory.
This proposed project will attempt to confront and resolve these issues according to the following major goals: (1) recruit and test a fleet of in-use HDVs for exhaust emissions on a chassis dynamometer using transient driving cycles; (2) collect HDV emissions data in such a manner as to allow for estimation of the effects of vehicle loading on emissions; (3) collect HDV emissions data to allow for estimation of the emissions effects due to vehicle/engine operation in the idle mode; (4) collect HDV emissions data to allow for estimation of start emissions; (5) collect HDV emissions data to allow for an analysis of the emissions impact of tampering and mal-performing components.
This proposed project is included in the Technology Advancement Plan for the Clean Fuels Program as project TR-01, "Advanced Transportation Systems Research, Development and Demonstration." The expected benefits of this project include the generation of data which can be used to improve the State HDV emissions inventories. In addition, this project will provide for direct analysis of emissions benefits of alternative fuel HDVs in terms of percent reductions in grams per mile.
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 the sole source, (4) other circumstances exist identifying the sole source as in the best interest of the AQMD. This request for sole source award is being made under provision (4). ARB will be the contractor and manager for this project. As an agency, it has had extensive experience in managing and administering projects involving heavy-duty vehicle emissions testing and emissions inventory development. This experience makes ARB particularly well-suited for this project. ARB is responsible for the State emissions inventory and emissions modeling associated with its development and, in this capacity, is uniquely qualified to manage this project which could ultimately shape the HDV portion of the inventory.
Data resulting from this project could lead to a more accurate HDV emissions inventory for the South Coast Air Basin, directly benefiting the AQMD's emissions modeling and control measurement development efforts. Also, by providing co-funding for this project, the AQMD will participate in all administrative and technical aspects, including review of responses received to an RFP which will precede the ARB's award of a contract for this work, selection of a contractor to complete work specified under the contract, reviewing all deliverables, and meeting regularly with ARB staff and representatives from other contractors involved with this project.
California State law (Public Contract Code, Section 10115 et seq. and Title 2, California Code of Regulations, Section 1896.60 et seq.) requires that "goals of participation" involving Minority, Women, and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises be met for each contract entered into by and between the State and outside contractor(s). The minimum percentages of participation that must be obtained for this contract are: Minority Business Enterprises (15%), Women Business Enterprises (5%), and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (3%). Bidders that will be considered responsive to this requirement are those that either attain the entire participation goal percentages, or provide sufficient documentation to demonstrate that a sincere good-faith effort was made to attain the goals.
Resource Impacts
The total cost of the project is $850,000, with AQMD's co-sponsorship amount not to exceed $200,000. At this time, the ARB intends to provide the balance of funding for this project. Sufficient funds are available in the Fiscal Year 1995-96 budget to fund this project.
BD13:3-96h