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Execute Contract to Co-Sponsor the Evaluation of Impacts and Benefits of Hybrid Electric Vehicles

SYNOPSIS:

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) have potential for significant beneficial impacts on fuel consumption, air quality and emissions of greenhouse gases. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has assembled a group of public and private stakeholders to compare the impacts and benefits of various HEV options. This group has developed four statements of work for competitive solicitation to evaluate the following areas: 1) HEV architecture, performance, modeling and impacts; 2) costs; 3) customer preference and interest; and 4) commercialization issues. AQMD’s contribution to this project shall not exceed $250,000. EPRI and ARB will contribute $250,000 each.

COMMITTEE:

Technology, January 28, 1999. Less than a quorum was present during the discussion of this item; the chair communicated his concurrence.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Authorize the Chairman to execute a contract with the Electric Power Research Institute to cost-share the evaluation of impacts and benefits of hybrid electric vehicles, in an amount not to exceed $250,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

Typically, an HEV is an electric car that also has a small internal-combustion engine and an electric generator onboard to charge the batteries and thus extend vehicle range. Several automobile manufacturers are introducing hybrid vehicles, with others anticipated to follow. These early HEVs vary in vehicle platforms, size of engines, electric motors and battery types, and operational control algorithms to name a few. How these various components are sized, packaged, and controlled will substantially impact the air quality benefits they are likely to provide. The new HEV designs to be commercially available by some automobile manufacturers this year use fossil fuel for charging the battery packs. Other design options suggest that a portion of the vehicle’s range could be all-electric using grid supplied electricity.

Proposal

The main objective of this project is to evaluate and compare the impacts and benefits of various types of light-duty HEVs, namely "parallel" vs. "series" engine/motor configurations, and charge sustaining vs. grid-dependent technologies. EPRI has formed a working group comprised of representatives from major private and public stakeholders to manage and oversee the successful completion of this program. The working group has developed four statements of work for competitive solicitation of qualified contractors to fulfill the objectives of this program. The statements of work address: 1) Developing various HEV architectures, and modeling their efficiency and environmental performance based on several different driving cycles; 2) Determining the anticipated component and vehicle costs and comparing differences for each option; 3) Assessing customer acceptance and preferences for each alternative; and 4) Evaluating prospective commercialization issues and strategies. The AQMD has been an active participant in developing the statements of work, and will participate in the contractor selection process and project management as a member of the working group.

Benefits to AQMD

The proposed project is included in the November 1998 update of the Technology Advancement Plan under Project 98T3-1, "Advanced Transportation Systems Research, Development and Demonstration." The AQMP relies on the expedited implementation of advanced technologies and clean-burning fuels in Southern California to achieve air quality standards. HEVs are a promising technology to help achieve that goal.

The outcome of this study will help clarify the criteria for emissions evaluations, performance requirements, customer acceptability, and issues related to commercialization of different types of HEV technologies. Findings will assist in evaluation of the emissions behavior of different types of HEVs in comparison with SULEV requirements, operating either partially on pure electric power or in combination with an internal combustion engine. Results could also assist regulatory agencies in assessing the impacts of HEVs on emissions inventories. The outcome of this study will also help automobile manufacturers better plan their market penetration and commercialization strategies for different types of HEVs.

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 interest of the AQMD. Specifically, these circumstances are: B.2.d.(1) Project involving cost sharing by multiple sponsors.

EPRI is cost sharing this project in the amount of $250,000, and has a longstanding history of managing and supporting similar projects involving development and commercialization of new technologies. The working group brought together by EPRI for this project has significant experience in vehicle development, modeling, assessment of test cycles, evaluation of emissions and performance, and commercialization of new technologies. The participants of the working group are comprised of private and public stakeholders including General Motors, Ford, Volkswagen, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), New York Power Authority, Southern California Edison, EPRI, ARB, and AQMD. Each entity brings a wealth of knowledge and experience directly related to the development, assessment, and commercialization of HEVs both from regulatory and commercialization standpoints. In addition, the AQMD’s contribution to this project is leveraged at a ratio of 1 to 2 by contributions from fellow stakeholders.

Resource Impacts

The total amount of AQMD funding for this project shall not exceed $250,000. EPRI and ARB will contribute $250,000 each. The modeling work will be conducted by General Motors and NREL as in-kind contribution.

Sufficient funds are available from the Clean Fuels Fund, established as a special revenue fund resulting from the state-mandated Clean Fuels Program. The Clean Fuels Program, under Health and Safety Code Sections 40448.5 and 40512 and Vehicle Code Section 9250.11, establishes mechanisms to collect revenues from mobile sources to support projects to increase the utilization of clean fuels, 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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