South Coast Air Quality Management District

Execute Contract to Renew AQMD’s Participation in California Fuel Cell Partnership for Calendar Year 2001

SYNOPSIS: 

On March 17, 2000, the Board approved joining the California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP) as a full member. The CaFCP is a collaborative group composed of 18 members of government agencies, automobile manufacturers, fuel suppliers, and fuel cell technology providers. Their primary focus is to demonstrate fuel cell vehicles and increase public awareness of these vehicles. Its key achievement last year was the opening and dedication of the CaFCP facility in West Sacramento, where several automakers displayed fuel cell vehicles and the planning of the deployment of a fleet of fuel cell buses. Staff recommends renewing AQMD’s participation in the CaFCP in an amount not to exceed $88,000 for calendar year 2001.

COMMITTEE: 

Technology, March, 23, 2001, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Authorize the Chairman to renew AQMD's membership Participation in the California Fuel Cell Partnership for the Calendar Year 2001 by executing a contract with Bevilaqua-Knight Inc., acting on behalf of the Partnership, for an amount not to exceed $88,000.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

To attain federal and state clean air standards by year 2010, the AQMP relies on the significant penetration of zero and near-zero emission technologies in the Basin. Zero-emission fuel cell vehicles are among the cleanest alternatives available to comply with AQMD, and ARB regulations.

The California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP) was formally initiated in April of 1999. Through this public/private effort, automobile companies, technology providers, fuel suppliers, and government agencies have joined together to demonstrate fuel cell vehicles under real day-to-day driving conditions. The CaFCP plans to place approximately 50 fuel cell passenger cars and fuel cell buses on California roads between 2000 and 2003. In addition to testing the fuel cell vehicles, the CaFCP will also identify fuel infrastructure issues and help prepare the California market for this new technology.

The goals of the CaFCP include the following:

1. Demonstrate vehicle technology by operating and testing the vehicles under real-world conditions in California;
2. Demonstrate the viability of alternative fuel infrastructure technology, including hydrogen and methanol stations;
3. Explore the path to commercialization, from identifying potential problems to developing solutions; and
4. Increase public awareness and enhance opinion about fuel cell electric vehicles, preparing the market for commercialization.

The CaFCP has grown with the addition of new participants. The membership currently includes several auto manufacturers (General Motors, Toyota, DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, and Volkswagen), three oil companies (BP Amoco, Shell, and Texaco), three fuel cell companies (Xcellsis, Ballard Power Systems and International Fuel Cells), and five government agencies (AQMD, CARB, California Energy Commission, U.S. Department of Energy, and U.S. Department of Transportation).

In addition, associate partners have joined to contribute needed expertise. Air Products and Chemicals, Linde AG, Methanex, and Praxair are providing fueling infrastructure support. Recently, Hydrogen Burner Technology, Stuart Energy, Proton Energy and PGE became Associate Partners. Two California transit agencies, AC Transit and SunLine Transit, are participating as the first host sites for the demonstration of fuel cell-powered transit buses.

Phase I of the CaFCP program ran through calendar year 2000, and focused on development of vehicle, infrastructure and outreach plans for future projects. Phase II, which runs through calendar years 2000-2001, involves the demonstration of fuel cell cars and buses using hydrogen fuel. Phase III, which runs through calendar years 2001-2003, involves the demonstration of cars and buses using hydrogen, methanol and later gasoline. Expansion of this latter phase may include a limited number of fleet customers beginning in 2003. In addition, the bus transit partners may purchase twelve, perhaps 20, zero-emission fuel cell buses.

Major accomplishments of last calendar year include the following:

• The completion, and dedication of the 55,000 sq. ft. California Fuel Cell Partnership facility in West Sacramento on November 1, 2000. Several automotive partners and their staff occupy designated indoor garage work-bays designed to house vehicles for routine servicing, repairs and diagnostic purposes.
• The demonstration of prototype fuel cell cars by several automakers at the grand opening on November 1, 2000.
• The completion of a hydrogen refueling station. Liquid hydrogen is trucked in and stored in a 4500 gallons tank; hydrogen fuel is dispensed in a fast-fill mode, as compressed gas, at pressures of 5000 psi and 3600 psi; Associate partners, Air Products and Praxair along with the oil companies BP, Shell and Texaco assisted in the design and construction of this refueling station.
• Development and training of safety procedures, and safety plan for the building.

Following are some of the activities being planned for calendar year 2001:

• Design, construction and installation of an onsite methanol fueling station.
• Possible construction of satellite hydrogen refueling stations in the Bay Area.
• The ongoing negotiations between AC Transit and Sunline Transit with bus manufacturers to purchase over a dozen hydrogen fuel cell buses.
• The arrival of additional hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, the accumulative target being around 18 vehicles by year’s end.
• The arrival of two methanol fuel cell vehicles.
• The continued testing and maintenance of existing and new fuel cell vehicles.
• The display of fuel cell vehicles at public events including several in the South Coast Basin such as the Los Angeles Marathon. Additional events being discussed include the Earth Day activity at the California Science Center on April 18, Orange County Science Fair in May, Michelin event in late October and AQMD’s International Conference in early November.

Benefits to AQMD

Membership in the CaFCP is consistent with the March 2001 update of the Technology Advancement Plan under 2001CFM4-4, "Demonstration of Fuel Cells in On-and Off-Road Vehicle Applications" and under 2001CFT-1 "Assessment and Technical Support of Advanced Technologies and Information Dissemination". The AQMD supports the development, demonstration and commercialization of zero-emission and near-zero emission fuel cell vehicles, and strives to educate public and private organizations regarding the benefits and characteristics of these vehicles.

The proposed project is included within the scope of the March 2001 update of the Technology Advancement Plan under the following category: 2001CFT-1 "Assessment and Technical Support of Advanced Technologies and Information Dissemination."

Real life demonstration of fuel cell vehicles and public outreach efforts will assist in overcoming commercialization barriers for fuel cell technologies. The availability and widespread distribution of this information and technical data would eventually help in accelerating the acceptance of zero-emission fuel cell vehicles. This, in turn, has the potential for wide-scale deployment leading to substantial reductions of criteria and toxic air pollutants. Such reductions would assist the Basin in meeting federal and state air quality standards by year 2010. In addition, deployment of fuel cell vehicles can lead to major multi-media environmental benefits such as improved water quality and reductions in the release of greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide.

Resource Impact

The AQMD’s share of the calendar year 2001 common project costs in the CaFCP is $88,000 to cover administrative, technical and program management cost. AQMD will enter into an agreement with Bevilaqua-Knight, Inc. (BKI). BKI has been retained by the CaFCP, through a subcontract agreement with Ballard Power Systems, to provide the needed support for the common tasks agreed to by the CaFCP.

As listed below, each Partner is providing $88,000 for defraying the costs of the CaFCP including:

• several auto manufacturers (General Motors, Toyota, DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, and Volkswagen),
• three oil companies (BP Amoco, Shell, and Texaco),
• two fuel cell companies (Xcellsis, Ballard Power Systems and International Fuel Cells), and
• five government agencies (AQMD, CARB, California Energy Commission, U.S. Department of Energy, and U.S. Department of Transportation).

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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