BOARD MEETING DATE: January 10, 2003
AGENDA NO. 9

Execute Contract for Public EV Charging Equipment and Signage Replacement to Help Coordinate Public Charging With Vehicle Technology and Maintain a Network of Compatible Public Charging

SYNOPSIS:

Southern California has an established network of public charging stations for electric vehicles. Over time, the mix of electric vehicles in use and their charging needs have evolved. There is currently a need to upgrade a portion of the existing charging stations to the existing technologies. As such, staff recommends that some of the existing public chargers be replaced with new chargers compatible with current commercially-available electric vehicles. Staff recommends upgrading up to 25 units at a total cost not to exceed $100,000.

COMMITTEE:

Technology, November 22, 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 Clean Fuel Connection, Inc., for public EV charging equipment and signage replacement in an amount not to exceed $100,000 total, or $4,000 per charger including installation, from the Clean Fuels Fund.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

The MSRC’s Quick Charge program initiated in 1996, provided cofunding for the installation of 205 large paddle inductive and 151 conductive chargers at 111 public sites within AQMD. The second year of the MSRC’s two-year FY 1997-99 AB 2766 Discretionary Fund Work Program provided additional cofunding on a first-come, first serve basis to install 164 large paddle inductive and 120 conductive chargers at 123 public and private (fleet) sites. In addition to the MSRC, funding for these original installations was provided by a variety of entities including site owners (public and private) and electric utilities. The last MSRC cofunded chargers were installed in June 2000 and the chargers will no longer be under warranty after June 2003. Additional public and private chargers have been installed by a variety of organizations.

Vehicles such as the 1997 and 1999 GM EV1 and 1999 Toyota Rav4 EV are equipped with large inductive charging receptacles that can use either a large paddle inductive charger or a small paddle inductive charger with an adapter. Although 1999 Toyota Rav4 EVs may be granted lease extensions through 2004, as the leases in southern California expire for GM EV1s through 2003, the usage of large paddle inductive public chargers is expected to gradually decrease. The current SAE inductive charging recommendation specifies the use of a small paddle connection.

During 2001, about one-third of the large paddle inductive public chargers in California were replaced with small paddle inductive chargers by GM to facilitate the introduction of EVs equipped with small inductive charging receptacles. The small paddle chargers, in addition to being a smaller size, allow infrared (IR) communication between new EVs and chargers required for operation in Asian markets in addition to the radio frequency (RF) communication used by previous EVs. For this and other reasons, it is necessary to replace the entire charger with a new charger, not just replacing the paddle.

For 2002, Toyota produced 288 Rav4 EVs targeted for retail placement in California. Nissan produced 200 Altra electric vehicles for placement in selected fleets in California. More than half of the vehicles are expected to be placed within the AQMD. Both vehicles are compatible only with small paddle inductive Level 2 (208-240V) chargers. Included with each vehicle lease from Toyota and Nissan is one small paddle inductive charger for installation at home or work, depending on whether the vehicle is placed with a retail or fleet customer. Neither company has announced specific vehicle production plans for 2003, but Toyota has announced that it intends to continue to satisfy retail demand for Rav4 EVs in 2003.

The number of small paddle inductive chargers produced monthly by Toyota Automotive Loomworks (TAL) is limited and TAL is currently the only manufacturer of inductive chargers. Clean Fuel Connection, Inc. (CFCI) is the only authorized TAL distributor and coordinates the placement of chargers for retail, fleet, and public use. Charger installation is conducted by CFCI sub-contractors or other electrical contractors in accordance with Toyota and TAL warranty specifications and local building permit requirements.

In northern California, funding to replace a number of small paddle chargers is being proposed by BAAQMD using CEC and local transportation funds and by the City and County of San Francisco using Clean Cities funding.

Proposal

There are currently about 60 public sites with about 150 small paddle inductive chargers within the AQMD. There are about 160 public charging sites with about 200 large paddle inductive chargers and no small paddle chargers.

The cost to replace one pedestal mounted large paddle inductive charger with a pedestal mounted small paddle inductive charger including labor is estimated at $3,500 - $4,000. Cost variation includes whether the charger was wall mounted, if site rework/rewiring is required to meet current codes and warranty requirements, and whether replacement signage is required. This proposal would provide funds for about 25 chargers. Due to currently limited charger availability, it is expected that it will take six to 12 months for charger installation. Chargers manufactured in Japan are currently being flown to the U.S. at higher cost rather than delivered through the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and TAL plans to continue this support if necessary to ensure timely delivery. A cap of $4,000 per charger replaced is proposed so that cost-effectiveness is one of the criteria used to prioritize charger replacement.

Replacement of large paddle inductive chargers with small paddle inductive chargers at strategic public locations will help meet increasing demand for small paddle inductive charging and continue the transition to the current inductive charging standard. Replacement of missing, broken, or defaced signs will be considered on a case-by-case basis, if necessary to encourage driver access, up to the $4,000 per charger with installation limit.

AQMD staff will work with stakeholders including EV drivers, auto manufacturers, charger manufacturer, charging equipment distributor, local electric utilities, public charging site providers, and other government agencies to prioritize charger replacement.

AQMD staff will provide a status update on EV charging including location and number of chargers and any signage replaced with this funding.

Benefits to AQMD

The proposed project is included in the March 2002 update of the Technology Advancement plan under Project 2002CFM5-2, Development and Demonstration of Fast and Innovative Charging Systems for Power Storage for Electric or Hybrid Electric Vehicles. Southern California has established a network of public charging for electric vehicles with a combination of public and private funding. Over time, the mix of vehicles and their charging needs has evolved. By providing funds to meet public charging needs, AQMD is demonstrating commitment to these advanced technologies, showing support for the ARB’s zero-emission-vehicle requirement, and encouraging the acquisition of these vehicles in order to help achieve local clean air goals.

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.c.; "the desired services are available from only the sole-source..," specifically B.2.c.(3) "contractor has ownership of key assets required for project performance."

CFCI has the sole distributorship of small paddle inductive chargers from the sole current charger manufacturer, TAL. CFCI is required to review and approve all charger installations prior to their use by Toyota Rav4 EVs; otherwise Toyota will not warranty the vehicle use with that charger.

Resource Impact

Sufficient funds are available from the Clean Fuels Fund for the replacement of these public chargers. The total amount of AQMD funding will not exceed $100,000, with a per charger cost including installation not to exceed $4,000.
 

Equipment	Total Cost
Approximately 25 chargers @ $4,000 maximum each	up to $100,000

The Clean Fuels Fund was 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.

/ / /