South Coast Air Quality Management District
South Coast Air Quality Management District
BOARD MEETING DATE: September 13, 2002 AGENDA NO. 3
Execute Contract to Develop and Demonstrate Hydrogen-Compressed Natural Gas (HCNG) Blend Transit Buses at SunLine Transit
SYNOPSIS:
Hydrogen and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fuel blends have the potential to reduce tailpipe pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions, reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and provide a bridge to hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles. SunLine Services Group in cooperation with Cummins Westport, NREL and Hydrogen Components, Inc. will develop and demonstrate two hydrogen/CNG fueled transit buses, testing them for durability, performance and pollutant emissions. This project will provide data and demonstrated experience that can be used in the certification and commercialization of hydrogen-CNG fuel blends in transit buses and other vehicles. Staff recommends executing a contract with SunLine Services Group to develop and demonstrate hydrogen-CNG blend transit buses in Coachella Valley in an amount not to exceed $238,000.
COMMITTEE:
Technology, July 26, 2002. Less than a quorum was present during the discussion of this item; the Chairman 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 SunLine Services Group to develop and demonstrate two hydrogen-CNG blend transit buses in Coachella Valley, in an amount not to exceed $238,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund.
Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer
Background
The AQMP has identified the use of alternative clean fuels in mobile sources as a key air quality attainment strategy. AQMD and CARB have passed regulations to reduce transit bus emissions. Hydrogen fuel cell buses are true zero-emission vehicles, and have the potential to eliminate VOC, NOx, CO and toxic emissions. CARB’s regulations require large transit agencies to demonstrate zero-emission buses beginning July 2003. Hydrogen-CNG fuel blends offer a near-term bridge to hydrogen fuels with the advantage of using existing and modified internal combustion engines. Reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and potential pollutant emission reductions may be obtained with these fuel blends.
SunLine Transit Agency, located in Thousand Palms is currently the only facility in the region with the capability to fuel vehicles using hydrogen-CNG blends. Upon successfully demonstrating the durability, performance and pollutant emissions reduction capabilities of engines using these fuel blends, appropriate parties can pursue certification from CARB. Certification will enable commercialization of engines using these fuel blends and implementation of them throughout the South Coast region.
Proposal
SunLine Services Group, the research and development section of SunLine Transit Agency, in partnership with Cummins Westport and Hydrogen Components, Inc. will develop and demonstrate two transit buses modified to use a blend of hydrogen and CNG as fuel. The goal of the project is to verify that hydrogen-CNG fuel blends can be used effectively and efficiently under normal work conditions while providing pollutant reduction and greenhouse gas benefits.
The project will utilize four transit buses equipped with Cummins 5.9L B+ engines. Two of them will be operated on CNG serving as control vehicles and the other two will use the hydrogen-CNG blend fuel. The engines will be installed, calibrated and optimized for the fuel to be used and put into transit service for the three-month/24,000 mile test interval. Emissions and durability testing will be conducted during this interval with "before and after" dynamometer testing to validate the performance. Test time on the West Virginia University Mobile Chassis Dynamometer will be provided by and coordinated by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The engines and critical vehicle components will then be thoroughly inspected and a detailed engine inspection report will be prepared. The completion of this project will provide the needed data and experience with hydrogen-CNG fuel blends to pursue and obtain CARB certification and eventual commercialization of this fuel blend/engine.
Benefits to AQMD
The proposed project is included in the March 2002 update of the Technology Advancement Plan under 2002 CFM2-2, "Development and Demonstration of Alternative Fuel Heavy-Duty Vehicles." This project will assist in ultimately expediting the implementation of fuel cell vehicles, which are advanced zero-emission vehicles, by providing a bridge technology that introduces hydrogen, blended with CNG as the vehicle fuel. This in turn would lead to the direct reductions in NOx, VOC, CO, PM, toxics and global warming emissions from heavy-duty and medium-duty vehicles that presently use CNG as fuel. An additional benefit will be to demonstrate that heavy-duty vehicles using existing engine technology and hydrogen-CNG fuel blends can meet the 2007 CARB/USEPA heavy-duty engine regulations. This will help to establish hydrogen as a platform for use as a transportation fuel.
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 provisions B.2.c.(2): the project involves the use of proprietary technology; B.2.c.(3): the contractor has ownership of key assets required for project performance; and B.2.d.(1): other circumstances, including projects involving cost-sharing by multiple sponsors. It is in the best interest of the AQMD to cosponsor the proposed project, whose participants include Cummins Westport, SunLine Services Group, Hydrogen Components, and NREL.
SunLine Services Group is among the most progressive transit agencies operating within the AQMD. It has aggressively implemented alternative fueled vehicles in their commercial operations. SunLine Services Group has extensive experience in designing, implementing and successfully operating gaseous fueling stations and gaseous fueled vehicles. It has already completed the construction of a water electrolysis system to generate hydrogen using both grid electricity and renewable solar energy. SunLine is fully aware of the permitting and construction issues of locating a hydrogen production and dispensing facility. It is in the process of acquiring several hydrogen-powered buses for deployment in revenue services. Hydrogen-CNG fueled transit buses could eventually replace the bulk of SunLine's transit fleet.
Cummins Westport is an engine manufacturer with recognized expertise in natural gas injection and combustion in the compression ignition engines used in medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles. Their Cummins "B" engines have extensive experience on the road and in testing facilities. Cummins holds patents for their B+ engine design as well as the specialized test equipment to be used in this project.
Hydrogen Components, Inc. under the leadership of Frank Lynch developed, implemented and patented the concept of Hythane, which is a fuel blend consisting of 20% hydrogen and 80% natural gas. This company's experience in working with hydrogen-CNG blends will be invaluable in ensuring the successful completion of the project.
NREL, located in Golden, Colorado will provide dynamometer testing for the buses under a separate agreement that they have with the University of West Virginia. The partnership of NREL ensures that the dynamometer equipment and testing will be provided for this project.
Resource Impacts
The total amount of AQMD funding for the proposed project will not exceed $238,000. The total project cost is expected to be $476,000, as shown below (cost share does not include costs for in-kind service and equipment as well as existing infrastructure to be used for the project).
|
$238,000 |
|
in-kind |
|
in-kind |
|
in-kind |
|
$238,000 |
|
Total project funding |
$476,000 |
This project is included in the March 2002 Technology Advancement Plan update for 2002. Sufficient funds are available from the Clean Fuels Program 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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