BOARD MEETING DATE: December 5, 2003
AGENDA NO. 5

Purchase Three New Technology Vehicles for Advanced Technology Vehicle Demonstration

SYNOPSIS:

The AQMD tests and demonstrates new vehicles with available low-emission and clean-fuel technologies as they become available. It is proposed that the AQMD purchase three Toyota Prius vehicles with advanced hybrid-electric drivetrains. Total cost to the AQMD for these three vehicles will be $79,870.

COMMITTEE:

Not Applicable

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

1. Appropriate $79,870 from the Clean Fuels Fund to the Capital Outlays Major Object of the Science & Technology Advancement Office; and
    
2. Authorize the purchase of three 2004 Toyota Prius hybrid vehicles from Elmore Toyota dealership for a total amount of $79,870.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

The AQMD demonstrates a number of advanced technology vehicles. In particular, hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs) are showing great promise in terms of emissions and fuel economy, with Honda and Toyota leading the way with their Insight/Civic and Prius models, respectively. The AQMD currently has two 2000 Honda Insight, three 2003 Honda Civic and two 2001 Toyota Prius HEVs in its Fleet.

The new 2004 Prius is the first vehicle equipped with Toyota’s next generation hybrid-electric drivetrain. Improving upon the original Prius, the new model offers increased power, better fuel efficiency and lower emissions. The new Prius combines a gasoline engine, two electric motor/generators, a battery pack, an electronically-controlled continuously variable transmission, and power and control electronics. The primary technical improvement is a voltage converter that increases the overall battery voltage, offering higher efficiency and more power with a smaller, more durable battery. The engine itself runs at a higher maximum rpm, generating more horsepower. As a result, the Prius achieves higher fuel economy and better acceleration than their previous Prius hybrid, with larger passenger space in the first mid-sized hybrid passenger vehicle and an average combined fuel economy of 55 mpg.

California has adopted a new designation for vehicles with SULEV exhaust emissions, zero fuel evaporative emissions, 150,000-mile emissions durability and an extended emission systems warranty. Vehicles certified to meet these requirements are referred to as Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emission Vehicles (AT-PZEVs). The three proposed Prius vehicles are certified as AT-PZEVs.

Proposal

Staff recommends that the Board authorize the purchase of three 2004 Toyota Prius vehicles equipped with package #9 (which includes the side-curtain air bags, advanced entry and ignition system, hands-free wireless telephone capability, and voice-activated navigation system) in order to fully demonstrate all available features including the advanced hybrid-electric drivetrain, which represents the latest AT-PZEV technology.

Benefits to AQMD

The proposed project is included in the March 2003 update of the Technology Advancement plan under Project 2003CFT-4, Assessment and Technical Support of Advanced Technologies and Information Dissemination. The purpose of including these hybrid-electric vehicles in the AQMD fleet is to illustrate the AQMD’s own commitment to these advanced technologies and to showcase commercially available advanced technology vehicles. The AQMD supports the ARB’s zero-emission-vehicle requirement and strives to educate public and private organizations regarding the benefits and characteristics of HEVs.

Competitive Bid Process

Twenty five copies of RFQ #PUR-2004-15 were sent to Toyota dealers in our area. Eight quotations were received before the bidding closed at 3:00 p.m. on November 21, 2003.

The lowest qualified bid for three Toyota Prius vehicles with package #9 is from Elmore Toyota, Westminster. This dealership also estimated the earliest delivery date, 30-45 days from the date of order. Therefore, staff recommends that the Board authorize the purchase of three 2004 Toyota Prius vehicles from Elmore Toyota for a total of $79,870, including tax and fees.

Resource Impact

The purchase price of the 2004 Toyota Prius is $26,623.31 each. The total amount for the three vehicles will not exceed $79,870. 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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