BOARD MEETING DATE: January 9, 1998 AGENDA NO. 10
PROPOSAL
Execute Contract to Cost-Share Recommended Best Practices for Natural Gas Fuel System Design and Integration
SYNOPSIS:
The Gas Research Institute (GRI) is sponsoring a project to develop recommended best practices for natural gas fuel system design and integration for medium-duty trucks and transit and school buses. GRI has requested AQMD participation to expand that effort to include school buses and additional medium-duty truck platforms and applications. Total cost of the entire scope of work is $795,508, with AQMD support not to exceed $150,000.
COMMITTEE:
Technology, December 11, 1997, Recommended for Approval
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Authorize the Chairman to execute a contract with the Gas Research Institute, in an amount not to exceed $150,000, to cosponsor the development of recommended best practices for natural gas fuel system design and integration medium-duty trucks and transit school buses.
Barry Wallerstein, D. Env.
Acting Executive Officer
Background
GRI’s review of medium, heavy-duty and bus natural gas vehicle (NGV) developments has led GRI to conclude that a set of clear, concise and comprehensive recommended Best Practices for the Design and Integration of Natural Gas Fuel Systems is needed. To achieve this objective, GRI has contracted with Battelle Memorial Institute (Battelle) to develop such practices for medium-heavy-duty trucks and transit buses. GRI has
requested AQMD to expand this scope of work by supporting the development of best practices for school buses and additional medium-duty truck platforms.
The objective of this project is to help ensure that on-board natural gas fuel systems will be safe, reliable and cost-effective to install and maintain. The already-funded portion of the project includes CNG and LNG for full-size transit buses, CNG and LNG for medium-duty trucks, and CNG for heavy-duty trucks. The results will be a comprehensive design guide reference book and a set of documents that can be published by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) for each vehicle class. Best Practices have already been developed for LNG heavy-duty trucks, and resulted in SAE J2343, which has become the recognized guideline for heavy-duty truck chassis manufacturers and fuel system integrators. Several safety-related incidents over the past year to 18 months have clearly established the need for this work.
Proposal
GRI proposes to expand the scope of the current project to include school buses and additional medium-duty vehicle platforms. As previously stated, work is underway for medium heavy-duty trucks and transit buses. While much of the needed information exists within the industry, it needs to be better assembled and disseminated and more widely adopted. Some of the specific shortcomings are:
The proposed work will not only develop a set of recommended best practices, but will begin the process of building an industry consensus for use of these practices, and develop and execute a plan for transferring the results of the project to the pertinent end-users. The products of the project will include a design guide reference book and illustrative design schematics. This material will be used to develop a set of Recommended Practices that can be submitted to SAE. The AQMD-funded portion, relating to school buses and medium-duty vehicles, will become a part of the larger effort and the AQMD will receive all reports and documents generated by the project as a whole.
The proposed project is included in the September 1997 update of the Technology Advancement Plan for the Clean Fuels Program as Project 97M1-3, "Development and Demonstration of Low Emission, Alternative Fuel Engine Technologies for On-Road Applications."
Sole Source Justification
Section II, Step 3 (C) of the Consultant Selection Policy and Procedure identifies four provisions under which a sole-source award may be justified: (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 join in an existing effort by GRI to develop best practices for natural gas vehicle fuel systems. By providing the funding to enhance GRI’s efforts, the AQMD will obtain the benefits of the entire project.
The Gas Research Institute is a non-profit organization whose members include utilities, fuel producers, and others in the natural gas industry. GRI supports a variety of research, development and demonstration efforts supporting the development and commercialization of natural gas engines and vehicles. GRI is the only such organization representing the entire natural gas industry.
Battelle Memorial Institute was selected by GRI to perform this project through a competitive solicitation conducted in the Spring of 1997. Battelle is a non-profit, technology-oriented organization with broad experience in alternative fuel safety and operational issues. Battelle was selected by GRI based on the following attributes:
- Automotive design
- Systems safety analysis
- Alternative fuel fleet operations
Financial Impacts
The total cost of the Best Practices project, including the proposed additional work funded by the AQMD, is approximately $795,508. GRI funding is $545,944. Gas Technology Canada is contributing $99,564 and AQMD funding is proposed at $150,000.
Sufficient funds are available in the Fiscal Year 1997-1998 Budget.
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