Proposal:

Execute Contract to Cost-Share Development and Demonstration of Fast Charging System for Electric Vehicles

Synopsis:

Automotive manufacturers have announced the introduction of EVs. Because of battery capacity and recharging time, these EVs will be limited to a daily range of 50 to 120 miles. Besides higher-capacity batteries, fast charging systems have been identified as an area which can improve the effective range of EVs. Based on the results of a competitive solicitation, AeroVironment has been selected to develop and demonstrate fast charging systems. AQMD funding for this $1.77 million project will be $500,000.

Committee:

Technology, April 25, 1997, Chair Leonard Paulitz and member Cody Cluff communicate their concurrence with the Executive Officer’s recommendation.

Recommended Action:

Authorize the Chairman to execute a contract with AeroVironment, Incorporated, for an amount not to exceed $500,000 to co-sponsor the development and demonstration of a fast charging system for EVs.

James M. Lents, Ph.D.
Executive Officer

Background

In 1990, the ARB adopted a regulation requiring the seven largest vehicle manufacturers to introduce a specified percentage of light-duty passenger cars and trucks as ZEVs beginning in 1998. In March 1996, the ARB modified this ZEV regulation to incorporate a market-based approach which will advance the introduction of cleaner vehicles into the market place and allow additional time for development of longer-range advanced batteries and EV infrastructure. From 1996 to 2000, these manufacturers will put into service between 1250 and 3,750 EVs with advanced batteries. In 2003, all large- and intermediate-volume manufacturers need to sell 10% of their light-duty fleets as ZEVs, or about 250,000 EVs per year.

General Motors (GM) introduced the EV1 last December. Ford, Honda and Toyota have announced the market introduction of their EVs later this year. The performance of these EVs will be equivalent to gasoline vehicles in all respects except for travel range. For the GM and Ford EVs, the range will be limited to 50 to 80 miles due to the limited energy capacity of lead-acid batteries. Honda and Toyota have announced they will introduce their EVs with advanced nickel-metal-hydride batteries, which will increase the range of these EVs to between 100 to 130 miles.

There are active efforts to increase the range and energy storage capacity of EVs. The United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC) is supporting the development of several new batteries made of high-energy materials such as nickel and lithium. The Advanced Lead-Acid Battery Consortium (ALABC) and others are also developing improved batteries made of more traditional materials such as lead and zinc.

The travel range of a vehicle is a combination of many factors, including energy storage capacity and refueling or recharging time. With large fuel tanks and relatively short refueling times, traditional vehicles have essentially unlimited daily range. However, EVs have relatively small "fuel tanks" (battery energy storage capacity) and relatively long "refueling" (recharging) times of between three and twelve hours for empty battery packs. This essentially limits the daily range to the capacity of the battery pack with an overnight charge. Charging between short trips or "opportunity charging" can potentially double an EV’s daily range.

Fast, high-power charging systems are now being developed, or are under consideration for development, with the goal of recharging EVs in minutes rather than hours. These charging systems include those using conductive (metal-to-metal) and inductive (mag-netic) coupling between the EV and the off-board charging station. In addition to high electrical power, some of these systems use proprietary charging patterns or algorithms which speed charging and improve battery life.

On December 13, 1996, an RFP was approved by the Board to develop and demonstrate fast charging systems for EVs. This RFP allocated $1 million for multiple projects, with no more than $500,000 being awarded to any one contractor.

Outreach

In accordance with the AQMD’s consulting and contracting policies, a public notice advertising the RFP and inviting bids was published in the following publications: The Black Voice News, Chinese Daily News, Eastern Group Publications, El Chicano, The Excelsior, Inland Empire Hispanic News, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Korea Central Daily, La Opinion, La Voz, Los Angeles Sentinel, Los Angeles Times, M/W/DVBE Source, Orange County Register, Philippine News, Precinct Reporter, Rafu Shimpo, Riverside Press Enterprise, the San Bernardino Sun, and the State of California Contracts Register. Additionally, potential bidders were identified through Los Angeles County’s Directory of Certified Minority, Women, Disadvantaged and Disabled Veterans Business Enterprises; the Directory of Certified Firms published by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority; the Inland Area Opportunity Pages Ethnic/Women Business & Professional Directory; the Caltrans electronic bulletin board listing of Disadvantaged and Women Business Enterprises; the AQMD’s own electronic listing of certified minority vendors; and AQMD Purchasing’s mailing list. Copies of the RFP were mailed to the Black and Latino Legislative Caucuses and various minority chambers of commerce and business associations; and were placed on the Internet at AQMD’s Web site [http://www.aqmd.gov] and on AQMD’s bidder’s 24-hour telephone message line.

Bid Evaluation

Three proposals were received by the extended closing date of March 4, 1997. They were reviewed and evaluated according to established AQMD guidelines by a panel comprised of AQMD and ARB staff. The three-member panel consisted of two males and one female (one Hispanic and two Caucasians). A summary of the panel's scoring is included as Attachment A. The evaluation process involved two steps. First, proposals were evaluated using technical criteria. Proposals receiving scores of at least 70 out of 100 points were considered technically qualified and eligible for contract award. Next, the technically qualified proposals were evaluated using the criteria of "cost, cost per technical innovation and commercialization potential, and other factors," as outlined in the RFP. Using this two-step selection process, two proposals from AeroVironment (AV) and GM received high, qualifying scores. The proposal from Electrotranz did not meet the minimum technical criteria.

Proposition 209 Compliance

It is AQMD policy to award additional points or cost benefits for minority-owned, woman-owned, and/or disabled-veteran-owned business enterprises. On November 5, 1996 California voters approved Proposition 209 which prohibits discrimination or granting preferential treatment based upon race, ethnicity, color, sex or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting. (Proposition 209 does not address disabled veteran-owned business enterprises.) On December 16, 1996, the Federal District Court issued an order applicable to all government agencies in California prohibiting enforcement of Proposition 209. Therefore, the AQMD’s existing policy remains in effect. Should the status of the law change at any point during the process of issuing an RFP or RFQ or entering into a contract pursuant to a previously issued RFP or RFQ, the AQMD will abide by the law in effect at the time the action is taken and any RFP or RFQ will be deemed modified to comply with existing law and any provisions in conflict with existing law will not be enforced.

Proposal

The proposed project from AV contains two basic tasks: Charging System Development and Charger/Vehicle Demonstration. In the first task, AV will complete the commercial design and development of their 60-kilowatt ProCharge™ fast charging system. A prototype of this system, along with an electric S-10 pick-up truck set a world distance record of 1020 miles in 24 hours. The proposed system will include both conductive and inductive coupling to EVs. Under the second task, two fast charging sites will be set up at Southern California Edison and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Four electric S-10 pick-up trucks will be retrofitted to accept fast charging and will be demonstrated for four months. The entire project will last 15 months.

The proposed project from GM also contains two basic tasks and covers 22 months. In Task 1, System Requirements, GM through its subcontractor, Delco Electronics Power Control Systems of Torrance, will finalize the design of a 50 kilowatt fast charger based on its MAGNE CHARGE™ inductively coupled system. As subcontractors, Edison EV, Southern California Edison (SCE), Schott Power Systems, and Hughes Technical Services Company of Torrance will also provide input into the charger and EV requirements. Under the second task of System Integration, Installation and Demonstration, SCE will purchase four E-10 pick-up trucks which GM will modify to accept fast charging. Edison EV will install one 50-kilowatt charger at the SCE Whittier Service Center and conduct a six-month demonstration with the four trucks. The GM proposal with regard to minority-owned, woman-owned and/or disabled-veteran-owned business enterprises requires clarification. Therefore, a recommendation to execute a contract with GM is being withheld at this time.

The proposed projects are included in the Technology Advancement Plan, approved by the Board on October 11, 1996, as Project M2-1, "Advancement of EV Battery and Charging Systems." The major benefit of these projects is to promote the development of commercial fast charging systems. This will enhance the deployment of ZEV/EVs as indicated by the AQMP.

Resource Impacts

The total cost of the AV fast charger project is $1.77 million with AQMD's co-sponsorship amount not to exceed $500,000. The sponsorship includes:

AeroVironment	$250,000
Delco Electronics Power Control Systems	50,000
Edison EV	32,000
Electric Power Research Institute	200,000
General Motors	200,000
Idaho National Engineering Laboratory	90,000
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power	176,000
Sacramento Municipal Utility District	125,000
Southern California Edison	149,000
AQMD	500,000
Total	$1,772,000

The total cost of the GM fast charger project is $2.93 million with AQMD’s co-sponsorship not to exceed $500,000. The sponsorship for this project includes:

Calstart	$400,000
Edison EV	82,000
General Motors	1,218,900
Schott Power Systems	50,000
Southern California Edison	680,600
AQMD	500,000
Total	$2,931,500

Sufficient funds for the AQMD portion of this project are available from the FY 1996-97 Budget.

Attachment

Summary of Evaluation of Responses to RFP # 9697-23.

/ / /

Summary of Evaluation of Responses to RFP #9697-23

Three proposals were received in response to this RFP. They were from AeroVironment (AV), General Motors (GM) and Electrotranz (Electro).

Step 1 - Technical Criteria (70 points minimum, 100 points maximum)

	Proposer
	AV	GM	Electro
Panel Average	80	91	13
Carry-over (50% of points > 70)	5	10.5	unqualified

Step 2 - Cost and Other Factors (85 points maximum)

Criteria

Proposer

	AV	GM
Cost (Maximum = 20 points for lowest cost) (Actual amount)	20 ($500,000)	20 ($500,000)
Cost per Technical Innovation & Commercialization Potential (Maximum = 40)	35	40
Co-funding/Matching funds (Maximum = 10)	9	9
Certified MBE/WBE/DVBE (Maximum = 10) OR Minimum of 20% Participation by MBE/WBE/DVBE Subcontractors (Maximum = 7)	7	0
Local Business Enterprise (Maximum = 5)	5	5
Total	76	74

Total Score (100 points maximum)

Criteria

Proposer

	AV	GM
Step 1 Carry-over Points (Maximum = 15)	5	10.5
Step 2 Points (Maximum = 85)	76	74
Total	81	84.5