BOARD MEETING DATE: March 13, 1998 AGENDA NO. 7
PROPOSAL:
Execute Contracts to Cost-Share Three Mobile Source Research Projects with ARB
SYNOPSIS:
ARB is in the process of selecting contractors for three mobile source research projects: (1) Comparative Life-Cycle Assessment of the Environmental Impact of Electric Vehicles Relative to Internal Combustion Engines; (2) Refinement of Fuel-Cycle Emissions Analyses; and (3) Demonstration of a Fast-Response On-Board NOx Sensor for Heavy-Duty Vehicles. ARB is seeking AQMD cost-sharing in the amount of $300,000 out of a total budget of $700,000 for these projects, broken down as follows: Project 1 - $100,000 of $200,000 budget; Project 2 - $75,000 of $150,000 budget, and Project 3 - $125,000 of $350,000 budget.
COMMITTEE:
Technology, February 27, 1998, Recommended for Approval
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Authorize the Chairman to execute contracts with ARB in an amount not to exceed $300,000 to cost-share three mobile source research projects, detailed in the Proposals section of this Board letter.
Barry Wallerstein, D.Env.
Acting Executive Officer
Background
Mobile sources produce the majority of VOC and NOx emissions in the Basin. To address this problem, increasingly stringent regulations have been implemented statewide for all on-road vehicle classes. Regulatory efforts to reduce vehicle emissions have resulted in development and integration of new control devices, as well as the commercial introduction of alternative fuel and zero-emission vehicles. As the variety of control strategies increases, the importance of concentrating additional efforts on quantification of environmental impacts also increases.
The ARB has invited AQMD participation in three mobile source research projects, all of which focus on developing analytical tools to quantify environmental effects of advanced on-road vehicle technologies.
Proposals
Impact of Electric Vehicles Relative to Internal Combustion Engines
Various studies have focused largely on quantifying exhaust and evaporative emissions benefits expected with the implementation of the ARB’s ZEV program, leaving detailed examination of other environmental factors less well quantified. The objective of this proposed project is to quantify environmental residuals (e.g., intentional or unintentional emissions to the air, discharges to water media, and deposits of solids and liquids to the land) associated with the production, fueling, operation, and ultimate disposal of conventional and electric vehicles and their components. This proposed project will result in a detailed and comprehensive report presenting the various environmental residuals, including a listing and qualitative evaluation of environmental and health impacts associated with conventional and electric vehicle technologies and recommendations for mitigating the negative impacts of both.
On November 26, 1997, ARB released Request for Proposals (RFP) 97-06, entitled, "Comparative Life-Cycle Assessment of the Environmental Impact of Electric Vehicles Relative to Internal Combustion Engines." At this time, the contractor selection process is underway. AQMD technical staff have been involved in the review of proposals received in response to the ARB solicitation. The maximum amount budgeted by ARB for this project is $200,000. AQMD’s co-funding shall not exceed $100,000.
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona has proposed to refine estimates of fuel-cycle emissions in the South Coast Air Basin from the use of vehicles powered by diesel fuel, liquefied petroleum gas, methanol (fuel cell), and electricity. Emission estimates are proposed for the total fuel production and energy conversion processes, including fuel acquisition and refining, distribution, and refueling. The infrastructure for each fuel cycle will be determined to evaluate the sources, quantities, and relative importance of the emissions in the Basin. Mass emissions calculations, on a per-vehicle-mile basis, are proposed for NOx, NMOG, methane, CO, CO2, and air toxics. A comparative analysis of the impact of each of the fuel-cycles on air quality is also proposed.
Subject to Board approval, ARB intends to execute an interagency agreement with California State Polytechnic University, Pomona in an amount not to exceed $150,000 for completion of this proposed project. AQMD’s co-funding shall not exceed $75,000.
It is expected that many engine manufacturers will use new or improved control strategies to comply with future, more stringent, NOx emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles. Fast response sensors, capable of detecting real-time NOx emissions, could be useful as tools to assist in optimizing selected control techniques. In addition, the sensors would also allow for continuous on-board monitoring of vehicle NOx emissions, allowing for early detection and repair of emission control equipment failures.
The objective of this proposed project is to select, calibrate, and demonstrate two types of fast-response NOx sensors for use in providing accurate real-time measurement of exhaust gas NOx from on-road, four-stroke cycle, heavy-duty vehicles. Demonstrations shall be conducted in working vehicles from existing fleets under typical operating conditions. The goal of the demonstrations shall be to ascertain the accuracy and durability of these sensors and to collect NOx measurement data for use in evaluating the usefulness of the sensors under real-world operating conditions. In addition, the applicability of the demonstrated NOx sensor technologies to heavy-duty alternative fuel vehicles shall be evaluated.
On November 17, 1997, ARB released RFP 97-03, entitled, "Demonstration of a Fast-Response On-Board NOx Sensor for Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicles." At this time, the contractor selection process is underway. AQMD technical staff have been involved in the review of proposals received in response to the ARB solicitation. The maximum amount budgeted by ARB for this project is $350,000. AQMD’s co-funding shall not exceed $125,000.
The proposed projects address technologies that are included in the September 1997 update of the Technology Advancement Plan under category 97T3-1, Advanced Transportation Systems Research, Development and Demonstration. The major anticipated benefits of project (1) include quantification of the environmental and health impacts associated with the production, use, and disposal of electric and gasoline vehicles; evaluation of measures to mitigate negative impacts; and generation of information which could be used to minimize the overall impact from future motor vehicles. The major anticipated benefit of project (2) is that it will result in life cycle emissions estimates for transport fuels likely to be used in the future, which in turn, could assist in updating Basin emissions inventories. The anticipated benefits of project (3) include the proof of concept of new NOx sensor technologies for heavy-duty vehicles, the potential for increased use, and resulting emission reduction, of the demonstrated technologies through their expedited commercialization, and the possibility of applying the demonstrated NOx sensor technologies to alternative fuel heavy-duty vehicles.
Sole Source Justification
Section VIII, (B)(2) of the Procurement Policy and Procedure identifies four major provisions under which a sole-source award may be justified. This request for a sole source award is made under provision B.2.d.: Other circumstances exist which in the determination of the Executive Officer require such waiver in the best interests of the AQMD. Specifically, these reasons are: B.2.d.(1) projects involve cost sharing by multiple sponsors; and B.2.d.(8) research and development efforts with educational institutions or nonprofit organizations.
The ARB will cost-share each of the three projects, as well as serve with AQMD as overall manager for the resulting contracts. In addition, for projects (1) and (3), because ARB is in the process of conducting a competitive bid, a sole source award to ARB is justified because a separate AQMD competitive bid would be duplicative. For project (2), an interagency agreement between ARB and California Polytechnic University, Pomona, an educational institution, is proposed.
Resource Impacts
AQMD funding of $300,000 out of a total of $700,000 is requested, broken down as follows: Project 1 - $100,000 of $200,000 budget; Project 2 - $75,000 of $150,000 budget; and Project 3 - $125,000 of $350,000 budget. Sufficient funds are available in the FY 1997-98 Budget from revenues received from the state-mandated Clean Fuels Program. The Clean Fuels Program, under Health and Safety Code 40448.5 and 40512 and Vehicle Code 9250.11, establishes mechanisms to collect revenues from mobile and stationary sources to support projects to increase the utilization of clean fuels in both sectors, including the development of the necessary advanced enabling technologies. Funds collected from motor vehicles are restricted, by statute, to be used for projects and program activities related to mobile sources that support the objectives of the Clean Fuels Program.
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