South Coast Air Quality Management District

Execute Contract to Cosponsor Development and Evaluation of Multiple Vehicle Type Expansion of Shared Electric Vehicle System

SYNOPSIS: 

Recent research has shown that in order to maximize the overall effectiveness of shared vehicle systems, multiple vehicle types should be used to capture the widest range of possible travel demand. This project will expand the UCR IntelliShare system beyond its current vehicle fleet of 15 homogenous electric vehicles to integrate additional vehicles and vehicle types. This adds complexity, but will be necessary to effectively manage large commercial vehicle allocation systems. Valuable operational data is collected daily on system operation, users, and vehicles. The total cost for this project is $522,094, with AQMD’s contribution not to exceed $95,336 from the Clean Fuels Fund.

COMMITTEE: 

Technology, October 25, 2002. Less than a quorum was present during the discussion of this item; the Vice Chair communicated his concurrence and recommendation that this item be forwarded for Board consideration with no approval or disapproval recommendation from the Committee.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Authorize the Chairman to execute a contract with the University of California, Riverside (UCR) Bourns College of Engineering – Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT) for the development and evaluation of multiple vehicle type expansion of shared electric vehicle system in an amount not to exceed $95,336 from the Clean Fuels Fund.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

Public transportation can be an economical alternative to the private automobile, but lacks flexibility and door-to-door convenience. Access to personal transportation for emergencies or unscheduled trips may remove barriers to the increased use of public transit. A shared vehicle system consists of a fleet of passenger vehicles that may each be used several times each day by different users for short local trips, as opposed to a typical car rental agency that usually rents a vehicle for one or more days. Energy and emissions benefits occur when low-polluting vehicles are used, and electric vehicles are well suited to the typical trip patterns in shared car systems.

To better understand the multi-faceted issues and benefits associated with shared vehicle systems, the University of California, Riverside (UCR) Bourns College of Engineering-Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT) established a research program focused on shared vehicle system architectures, operations, intelligent transportation system techniques, user behavior, and environmental/energy analysis. Much of this work has been completed using computer simulation models; but in addition, in 1999, CE-CERT developed and implemented an intelligent shared electric vehicle system "test bed" called UCR IntelliShare (http://www.cert.ucr.edu/intellishare). IntelliShare is a vehicle monitoring and management system applied originally to 15 homogeneous electric vehicles based at three stations at or near UCR. The vehicles were equipped with enabling technologies including vehicle tracking, keyless entry smartcard, and state of charge monitoring equipment to supply data to the users through a web-based allocation and management system. As with any resource sharing problem, mechanisms must be in place to effectively manage the resources, as well as satisfy the users. Although it is possible to manage small numbers of shared vehicles without sophisticated monitoring, quick access to detailed vehicle operating data will enable more vehicles to be added and efficiently utilized in shared car systems. In addition, state of charge monitoring enables electric vehicles to be used for multiple trips in one day. Recent research has shown that users have a desire for different vehicles for different trip purposes, and more information is needed about expanding car sharing with a heterogeneous vehicle fleet.

As of early June, 2002, IntelliShare has collected data on about 50,000 trips over 250,000 miles. On average, each vehicle is used about 7 or 8 times and the average trip distance is about 5 miles. Approximately 45% of the trips are made from one station to another, while 55% are "errand" trips (round trip beginning and ending at the same station). Use of the vehicles for short time periods is free, but fees incrementally increase for longer usage to increase access to vehicles for other users. Changes in system parameters, such as vehicle pricing, can be analyzed to determine their effect on user demand patterns and price points.

Proposal

CE-CERT is proposing to expand the IntelliShare system in three ways and analyze system and user responses in preparation for commercialization; 1) add a different type of vehicle to create a heterogeneous vehicle fleet, 2) more than double the user group from the engineering based UCR CE-CERT users to broader UCR faculty, staff, and students, and 3) add two additional stations.

The overall strategy for the expansion is to have as many on-campus trips as possible be satisfied by 11 neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs) supplied by project partner Daimler Chrysler Global Electric Motors (GEM), reserving the 25 freeway capable EV Plus vehicles supplied by American Honda for longer trips off-campus.

The proposed tasks included developing and integrating the on-board electronics for the NEVs, modifying the current UCR IntelliShare management system to handle multiple vehicle types associated with different trip purposes and provide users with vehicle choices, recruiting and training additional users on campus and operating the system for a year to evaluate the overall effectiveness of the multi-vehicle operation, and provide a final report of the analysis, results and potential for commercialization of this type of shared car management system.

Benefits to AQMD

Successful completion of this project will result in a commercialization analysis that will help expedite the introduction of car sharing systems in the South Coast region. Sufficient funding for the proposed amendment is included in the March 2002 update of the Technology Advancement Plan under Project 2000M5-3, "Demonstration of Innovative Battery Electric Vehicle Applications."

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.

CE-CERT has arranged significant cost sharing for this project, and has a long history of leadership in advancing the research and technology needed to enable the growth of car sharing systems in the US. The participants in this project are shown below. AQMD's contribution to this project is leveraged in a ratio of about 1 to 4.

Resource Impacts

The total cost for this project shall not exceed $522,094. The amount of AQMD funding shall not exceed $95,336.

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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