Back

BOARD MEETING DATE: January 8, 1999 AGENDA NO. 8

PROPOSAL:

Amend Contract to Cost-Share Development of Best Practices for Natural Gas Fuel System Design and Integration

SYNOPSIS:

At its January 1998 meeting, the Board approved entering into a cost-share project to develop recommended best practices for natural gas fuel system design and integration for medium-duty trucks and transit and school buses. The proposed amendment would add $25,000 to complete existing work that has proved to be more extensive than originally thought. Gas Research Institute is adding $50,000 to their cost share. Total cost of the project is approximately $870,508. AQMD cost will not exceed $175,000, including the proposed amendment.

COMMITTEE:

Technology, December 17, 1998, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Approve execution of a contract amendment with the Gas Research Institute for the development of best practices for natural gas fuel system design and integration for medium-duty trucks and transit and school buses. Total cost to the AQMD will not exceed $175,000.

Barry Wallerstein, D.Env.
Acting Executive Officer

Background

A review and analysis of the development of medium and heavy-duty natural gas vehicles led the Gas Research Institute (GRI) to pursue the development of clear, concise, and comprehensive criteria for the design and integration of natural gas fuel systems. GRI awarded a competitive procurement to Battelle Memorial Institute (Battelle) to develop these criteria and practices for medium- and heavy-duty trucks and transit buses. GRI requested AQMD support to expand this scope of work to support the development of best practices for school buses and additional medium-duty truck platforms. At its January 1998 meeting, the Board approved support of this project in the amount of $150,000.

As the program has progressed, it has grown in complexity and the associated level of effort needed to achieve the objectives of the program has been greater than originally anticipated. For example, while the number of school bus builders is limited, they are well organized and have specific mechanisms for putting together specifications for school transportation. Unlike the truck manufacturers, who pursue best practices through the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), the school bus community accomplishes this through the School Bus Manufacturers Technical Council. The best practices concept must now be introduced and discussed through this group.

Another example of an area/platform that is more complex than originally anticipated is medium-duty trucks. The heavy-duty truck builders have worked together to create SAE Recommended Best practices for LNG (SAE publication J2343), and therefore have not only some degree of familiarity with natural gas, but also an existing SAE subcommittee to work with. In contrast, the medium-duty market segment is more diverse, and less organized. No previous work has been done with this segment, and the time and effort needed to contact and organize this market segment has been greater than originally planned.

Finally, the amount of existing information on the integration of LNG as a vehicle fuel in all platforms, except heavy-duty trucks, has been difficult to ascertain.

Proposal

GRI proposes to increase funding for the project in the amount of $75,000. GRI will provide $50,000 of the additional funding and is requesting $25,000 from the AQMD. The additional funding will be used to further define school bus design issues and work with the School Bus Manufacturers Technical Council to publish the best practices as a part of the National Standards for School Buses and School Bus Operations. The school bus area is especially important in view of ARB’s desire to replace all pre-1977 California school buses with low emission buses in the next few years.

In addition, GRI, through Battelle, will work with existing sources to further define the issues associated with medium-duty trucks and other platforms. One specific area will be to identify paratransit vehicle design issues unique to natural gas versions of these vehicles. GRI and Battelle will work with representatives of this segment of the industry to address and incorporate these issues in a deliverable specific to CNG and LNG paratransit vehicles.

Benefits to AQMD

The project is included in the September 1997 update of the Technology Advancement Plan under Project 97M1-3, "Development and Demonstration of Low Emission, Alternative Fuel Engine Technologies for On-Road Applications." It is included in the November 1998 Plan update under Project 98TT-1, "Assessment of Advanced Technologies and Information Dissemination." The AQMP relies on the expedited implementation of advanced technologies and clean-burning fuels in Southern California to achieve air quality standards. In order to fully commercialize these vehicles, consistent, technically accurate, and safe practices must be established for the integration of natural gas fuel systems onto vehicle chassis. This effort has already generated valuable information that, even in its draft form, is proving useful to the natural gas vehicle industry. The completion of this project in a thorough and careful manner will result in several reference documents for each industry segment.

Although this project does not create any direct emissions reductions, it is meant to enhance the commercial viability of natural gas vehicle products. Creating the guidelines and criteria for the design of reliable, safe natural gas fueling systems will provide customers with the same confidence in natural gas vehicles that they currently have with gasoline or diesel products.

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.(1): Projects involving cost sharing by multiple sponsors. It is in the best interest of the AQMD to continue and enhance the effort by GRI to develop best practices for natural gas vehicle fuel systems.

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. Battelle is a non-profit, technology-oriented organization with broad experience in alternative fuel safety and operational issues.

Resource Impacts

The total amount of AQMD funding for the proposed project will not exceed $175,000, including the proposed $25,000 amendment. GRI is increasing funding by $50,000. Total project costs of $870,508 are described as follows: