Report:

Technology Committee

Synopsis:

The Technology Committee met August 16, 1996. Major items discussed included a review of Technology Advancement items reflected in the regular Board Agenda for the September Board Meeting; an update on the Fuel Cell Implementation Task Force; and a review of the Advanced Battery Program. A summary of these topics with the Committee's comments is provided, together with an attendance roster. The next Technology Committee meeting is September 27, 1996 in AQMD Conference Room CC-8 at 11:30 a.m.

Recommended Action

Receive and file this report.

Leonard Paulitz, Chairman
Technology Committee

Committee Topics

1. Execute Contracts and Amend Contracts with CE-CERT

In the FY 1996-97 Budget, $700,000 is identified for CE-CERT to conduct several technology advancement projects: (1) Measurement of Primary Particulate Matter Emissions from Light-Duty Motor Vehicles; (2) Smoking Vehicle Project, Medium-Duty Diesel Trucks; (3) Inventory of AFVs & AFV Comparison, OEM vs. Retrofits; (4) Development of Advanced Low-Emitting Propane Fueled Vehicle; (5) Operation & Improvement of the Solar Hydrogen Facility; (6) Phase III of the Gasoline Composition Study; and (7) Smog Chamber Evaluation of AFV Emissions. The Committee reviewed the information presented and noted their approval of staff’s recommendation.

2. Purchase and/or Lease of Zero-Emission Vehicles

As part of the Memorandum of Agreement with ARB, major automotive manufacturers will commercially offer electric vehicles in limited numbers in fall 1996. Upon approval, two original equipment manufacturer (OEM) electric vehicles will be procured for the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Lease Program. Total cost to the AQMD will not exceed $89,000. The proposed vehicles will be the first OEM electric vehicles in the Lease Program. Purchases of methanol and CNG vehicles and electric bikes were last approved by the Board in April 1996. The Committee asked that this item be held for further review pending negotiations for a more favorable monetary arrangement with the automobile companies.

3. Amend Contract with Thermo Power Corporation for the Development and Demonstration of a Natural Gas Retrofit Kit for Heavy-Duty Engines

At its May 12, 1995 meeting, the Board authorized the Chairman to execute an agreement for $156,755 with Thermo Power Corporation for development and demonstration of a natural gas retrofit kit for heavy-duty engines. The proposed amendment will provide for software and hardware upgrades to the retrofit kit to further improve vehicle performance and optimize emissions. These upgrades will be applied to the demonstration vehicles. Total amount of the amendment is $45,279, making the total contract amount $202,034. The Committee reviewed the information presented and noted their approval of staff’s recommendation.

4. Execute a Contract to Cost-Share the Development and Demonstration of an Electric Water Delivery Truck

On April 12, 1996, the Board approved executing a contract with McKesson Water Products (Sparkletts) for the development and demonstration of an electric water delivery truck. Due to delays by McKesson concerning contractual issues, this contract could not be executed in FY 1995-96. These issues are under discussion and are expected to be resolved shortly. This action is to secure Board re-authorization to execute this contract. The proposed project cost is $377,000, of which AQMD would cost-share in an amount not to exceed $175,000. The Committee reviewed the information presented and noted their approval of staff’s recommendation.

5. Update on Fuel Cell Implementation Task Force

Jon Leonard of Technology Advancement presented announced that the next meeting of the Renewable Energy/Fuel Cell Implementation Task Force will be September 10, 1996 from 9:00 to 4:30 p.m. at the AQMD. He also reported that the Ballard Fuel Cell Bus will be available for viewing at the next Technology Committee meeting, September 27, 1996. Ballard will give a technical presentation at this time. Paul Wuebben brought to the Committee’s attention that a Fuel Cell Commercialization Workshop will be held October 4, 1996 in the AQMD’s Auditorium.

6. Review of Advanced Battery Program

Mike Bogdanoff gave a status report on the demonstration of advanced batteries in EVs, noting that in response to a SCE-GM proposal, a working group of the AQMD and other agencies is developing an EV-advanced battery project. This project involves incentives for people to buy EVs with advanced batteries, as well as to study the impact of these long-range EVs on consumers and utilities. This working group is expecting to have the project plan completed by the end of October, and a proposal to the Technology Committee within the following few months. In principal, the group recommends providing incentives for advanced batteries beyond the ARB Memorandum of Agreement, and for household charging systems only.

7. Change of Date and Time for Technology Committee

Committee members agreed to keep the meeting schedule for Technology Committee as the fourth Friday of the month (unless there are five Fridays and then it will meet on the third Friday) from 11:30 to 1:00 in CC-8.

The October 1996 Technology Committee meeting will be held at CE-CERT to acquaint new Committee members with this facility. Also, there will be no meeting in December unless a pressing need develops.

Other Business

Chairman Paulitz introduced Ron Loveridge as a new member of the Technology Committee, filling the vacancy created by William Burke’s resignation from the Committee.

Public Comment Period

There was no public comment.

Attendance

Present were Committee Chairman Leonard Paulitz, Committee Vice Chair Jon Mikels, and Committee Members Mee Hae Lee and Ron Loveridge. Other attendees were as follows:

Nell Soto, Governing Board Member SCAQMD
Edric Guise, Board Member Assistant SCAQMD
Judy Orttung, Board Member Assistant SCAQMD
Chung S. Liu, ADEO Technology Advancement SCAQMD
Andy Abele, Technology Advancement SCAQMD
Mike Nazemi, Technology Advancement SCAQMD
Paul Wuebben, Technology Advancement SCAQMD
Jon Leonard, Technology Advancement SCAQMD
Fred Minassian, Technology Advancement SCAQMD
Dory Kilgour, Technology Advancement SCAQMD
Nancy Covey, Finance SCAQMD
Bill Wong, District Counsel’s Office SCAQMD
Sam Atwood, Press Office SCAQMD
Lauren Dunlap Southern California Gas Co.
Kyle Davis Southern California Edison
Ray Gorski Consultant