AGENDA NO.10
Proposal:
Execute a Contract to Cost-Share Development and Demonstration of Phase-2 Electric US Postal Service Long-Life Vehicles
Synopsis:
The US Postal Service (USPS) is developing electric conversions for its fleet of gasoline-powered Long-Life Vehicles (LLVs). A Phase-1 demonstration of two electric LLVs was successfully completed. TransMotive Technologies, in partnership with the USPS, now has proposed the development and demonstration of a Phase-2 electric LLV conversion. Following development, ten LLVs will be converted with five to be demonstrated in mail delivery service in Huntington Beach. The total cost of this project is $1,325,556; AQMD's cost-share will not exceed $150,000.
Committee:
Technology, April 10, 1996, Recommended for Approval
Recommended Action:
Authorize the Chairman to execute a contract with TransMotive Technologies, Incorporated, for an amount not to exceed $150,000.
James M. Lents, Ph.D.
Executive Officer
CSL:ARA:MXB
Background
The AQMP emphasizes the use of battery- and fuel-cell-powered ZEVs as an air quality attainment strategy. Although the ARB is requiring the introduction of ZEVs by the manufacturers of light-duty vehicles, no such requirement exists for medium-duty vehicles such as USPS LLVs. Such commercial vehicles normally have range requirements that exceed the capability of current EV propulsion and battery technologies.
The USPS operates the largest vehicle fleet in the world with 204,000 vehicles. Seventy-five percent of this fleet consists of LLVs which are generally used for stop-and-go mail delivery. Typically, they are used for short daily routes and, thus, are good candidates for electric propulsion. LLVs have a design life of 24 years, with a major engine and drivetrain overhaul planned after 12 years. Federal mandates require fleet operators to purchase ZEVs beginning in 1998. The USPS is investigating replacement of LLV drivetrains with battery-powered electric propulsion at the major overhaul point as a method to generate ZEV credits for the mandates.
US Electricar recently concluded a Phase-1 Proof-of-Concept project for converting LLVs to electric propulsion. A conversion system was developed, and two electric LLVs (ELLVs) were successfully demonstrated in Torrance, California and Merrifield, Virginia. The success of this project prompted the USPS to initiate a Phase-2 ELLV Demonstration Program to develop and demonstrate the next-generation conversion prior to the fleetwide deployment of ELLVs in 1999 (Phase 3). Under Phase 2, 25 ELLVs will be demonstrated in five U.S. cities, spanning a diverse range of topography and climate. Two of these cities are located in California, one within the South Coast District (Huntington Beach and San Francisco) and shall be supported by this contract. The goals of Phase 2 are to design and demonstrate various ELLV designs, demonstrate their maturity, collect performance data, establish life-cycle costs, and demonstrate the safety of ELLVs.
Proposal
In partnership with US Electricar, Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas and Electric, and others, TransMotive Technologies proposes to design, build and demonstrate ten ELLVs in the two California cities. These second-generation ELLVs will be based upon the information derived from the Phase-1 design and demonstration. TransMotive proposes to complete their Phase 2 ELLV project through the following steps:
(1) Design System Configuration
(2) Determine Structural Integrity, Durability and Crashworthiness
(3) Build 10 ELLVs
(4) Install Charging Infrastructure at Two Demonstration Sites
(5) Demonstrate ELLVs in USPS Service
Five ELLVs will be equipped with GNB-brand EV batteries and will be demonstrated at the Huntington Beach, California, Postal Center. The other five ELLVs will be equipped with Electrosource Horizon EV batteries and will be demonstrated at the San Francisco, California, Postal Center. ELLVS will be demonstrated in mail service for a period of approximately 15 months.
This proposed project is included in the Technology Advancement Plan for Clean Fuels Program as Project MS-13, "Development and Demonstration of Advanced Electric Vehicle Technologies." The potential emission benefits of ELLVs are largely due to their stop-and-go duty cycle. There are approximately 7500 LLVs in the South Coast Air Basin. If one-third of these are converted to ELLVs, their emissions will be reduced by an estimated 250 tons/year of VOC, CO and NOx . If successfully demonstrated, the resulting ZEV technology will become commercially available for the conversion of LLVs and other vehicles throughout Southern California with commensurate emission benefits.
Sole Source Justification
Section II, Step 3(C) of the Consultant Selection Policy and Procedure, identifies four provisions under which the Executive Officer may award a sole-source bid: (1) cost to prepare documents exceeds cost for consultant; (2) delay would result in the endangerment of public health; (3) services are only available from sole-source; and (4) other circumstances exist identifying sole-source as in the best interests of the AQMD. This request for sole-source award is made under provision (4). It is in the best interest of the AQMD to award a sole-source contract to TransMotive Technologies.
First, TransMotive Technologies is one of four firms selected by the USPS to participate in Phase 2. Each firm will be demonstrating five ELLVs in a particular city; however, TransMotive will be demonstrating 10 vehicles, five each in the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas. Ultimately, these four firms are competing for the USPS contract for the Phase-3 fleetwide conversions of LLVs. It is in the AQMD's best interest to support the demonstration of ELLVs in the Basin.
TransMotive has assembled a highly qualified team to execute this project:
(1) TransMotive has extensive experience in vehicle system design. They have developed various computer tools to integrate state-of-the-art components, materials, and technologies into electric and hybrid-electric vehicles. They are the developers of DYAD3D and other sophisticated models to evaluate structural integrity, durability and crashworthiness. TransMotive will lead the system configuration design and structural/crashworthiness tasks;
(2) US Electricar will be the prime subcontractor and will serve as the
program manager and manufacturer for the Phase-2 project. US Electricar
has extensive experience in manufacturing EVs and has developed the electric
S-10 pick-up truck, the electric Prizm sedan, the first-generation ELLV,
a 22-foot electric bus, and a hybrid-electric delivery van;
(3) USPS will supply the LLVs for conversion and will host the ELLV
demonstration in the Basin at the Huntington Beach Postal Center;
(4) Delco Electronics Power Control Systems will supply engineering support
for the charging system;
(5) Southern California Edison will supply the engineering support for
the recharging station at the Huntington Beach site; and
(6) GNB Battery Company will supply the EV batteries for the ELLVs in the SCAB.
TransMotive, US Electricar, the USPS and Southern California Edison encourage the participation of minority-owned, women-owned, and disabled-veteran-owned business enterprises in their programs to the maximum extent possible to ensure efficient performance and to comply with contract requirements and applicable laws. Although no requirements for subcontracted efforts have been identified at this time, qualified subcontractors will be sought as needed.
Resource Impacts
The total estimated cost of the development and demonstration project is approximately $1,325,556. The cost to the AQMD will not exceed $150,000. The funding breakdown is as follows:
| Cash | In-Kind | Total | |
| USPS | $132,500 | $258,000 | $390,500 |
| US Electricar | _ | 300,556 | 300,556 |
| California Trade & Commerce | 250,000 | _ | 250,000 |
| Delco Electronics PCS | _ | 25,000 | 25,000 |
| Southern California Edison | _ | 22,000 | 22,000 |
| Electrosource Battery | _ | 15,000 | 15,000 |
| Pacific Gas & Electric | _ | 15,000 | 15,000 |
| GNB Battery | _ | 7,500 | 7,500 |
| Bay Area AQMD | 150,000 | _ | 150,000 |
| AQMD | 150,000 | ------------ | 150,000 |
| Total | $682,500 | $643,056 | $1,325,556 |
Sufficient funds are available in the FY 1995-96 Budget.
BD13:5-96E