South Coast Air Quality Management District

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Appropriate Funds from Clean Fuels Fund and Execute Lease and Purchase Agreements for Four New-Technology Vehicles for Alternative Fuel Vehicle Loan Program

SYNOPSIS:

The AQMD tests and demonstrates new-technology vehicles with available low-emission and clean-fuel technologies. As part of the Technology Advancement Alternative Fuel Vehicle Loan Program, vehicles are procured as new technologies become available. It is proposed that the AQMD lease for three years, one General Motors EV1 and one Toyota RAV4 EV both with nickel metal hydride batteries, and purchase two Toyota Prius with hybrid-electric drivetrains with advanced batteries. Total cost to the AQMD for these four vehicles will not exceed $104,000.

COMMITTEE:

Technology, April 28, 2000, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

1. Appropriate $56,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund to the Services and Supplies Major Object, Leases Equipment Account of the Technology Advancement Office;
   
   
2. Appropriate $48,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund to the Capital Outlays Major Object, Automobiles Account of the Technology Advancement Office; and
   
   
3. Authorize the Chairman to execute leases with General Motors for one EV1, and with Toyota Motor Sales for one RAV4 EV, for a total amount not to exceed $56,000.
   
   
4. Authorize purchase two Toyota Prius hybrid vehicles for a total amount not to exceed $48,000.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

The AQMD operates a number of advanced technology, alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs). AFVs are assigned to AQMD inspectors and utilized in the AQMD motor pool. Some AFVs are also used in the AQMD’s carpool program.

The AQMD also utilizes a number of AFVs in the AFV Loan program, which demonstrates new clean-fuel vehicles to public and private organizations so that potential purchasers may familiarize themselves with commercially available AFVs. These program are especially important for EVs, in order to educate AQMD fleet operators and others about EV operating characteristics and charging requirements. These vehicles are also used by AQMD staff for demonstration and display at meetings, conferences and workshops.

Recently, General Motors (GM) has begun to equip EV1 with advanced nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries that essentially double the range of these vehicles. The Toyota RAV4 EVs come equipped with NiMH batteries and have a range near 100 miles.

Toyota began marketing the Prius hybrid-electric vehicle in December 1999. This vehicle is propelled by the combination of a brushless-DC motor and a 2.2-liter, 4-cylinder gasoline engine. Electrical energy from an alternator and the motor braking system (regenerative braking) is stored in a 144-volt NiMH battery pack. With the combination of electric and gasoline-engine propulsion, the Prius achieves 50 mpg and Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) emission certification.

Proposal

Staff recommends that the Board authorize the lease of one General Motors EV1 and one Toyota RAV4 EV, both with advanced batteries, and purchase two Toyota Prius with hybrid-electric drivetrain and advanced batteries. These vehicles will join a Honda EV Plus, a Toyota RAV4 EV and a GM EV1in the AQMD fleet. Because of the evolving nature of EVs, GM and Toyota only offer the EV1 and RAV4 EV for lease.

Benefits to AQMD

The proposed project is included in the March 2000 update of the Technology Advancement plan under Project 2000T-1, Assessment of Advanced Technologies and Information Dissemination. The purpose of including AFVs, EVs and hybrid-electric vehicles in the AQMD fleet is to illustrate the AQMD’s own commitment to these advanced technologies, and to showcase available OEM AFVs in order to encourage purchase of these vehicles by public and private organizations. The AQMD supports the ARB’s zero-emission-vehicle requirement and strives to educate public and private organizations regarding the benefits and characteristics of AFVs. The primary objective of adding these vehicles to the AQMD’s fleet is not the emissions benefits from six AFVs, but to demonstrate the viability of these vehicles to Basin fleets and to encourage the purchase of these low-emission 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 d.; "other circumstances exist which are in the best interests of the AQMD." The AQMD endeavors to include as many available technologies as possible in its fleet, representing a cross-section of manufacturers. The AQMD operates AFVs from Ford, General Motors, Toyota, Chrysler and Honda. As new, low emission technologies become available, other manufacturers will be included.

Resource Impact

The three-year leases for the GM EV1 and Toyota RAV4 EV will not exceed $28,000 per vehicle including tax, and transportation. The purchase price of the Toyota Prius will not exceed $24,000 each. The total amount for the four vehicles will not exceed $104,000.

Vehicle	Cost/Each	Total Cost
GM EV1	$28,000	$28,000
Toyota RAV4 EV	28,000	28,000
Toyota Prius (2)	24,000	48,000
Total		$104,000

Sufficient funds are available in the 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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