BOARD MEETING DATE: June 6, 2003
AGENDA NO. 33

California Fuel Cell Partnership Steering Team Meeting

SYNOPSIS:

This report summarizes the California Fuel Cell Partnership Steering Team meeting held
April 22-23, 2003.

COMMITTEE:

Technology, May 23, 2003, Reviewed

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file the attached report.

Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta
SCAQMD Governing Board

Summary of Steering Team Meeting
April 22-23, 2003

California Environmental Protection Agency
1001 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
 

Steering Team

Firoz Rasul, Ballard

Members Attending:

Jim Uihlein, BP Dr. Alan Lloyd, California Air Resources Board Jim Boyd, California Energy Commission Bob Dempsey, ChevronTexaco Dr. Ferdinand Panik, DaimlerChrysler Jim Katzer, ExxonMobil Mike Schwartz, Ford Alan Weverstad, General Motors Ben Knight, Honda R&D Americas Inc Joon-Chul Park, Hyundai America Technical Center Tarou Hagiwara, Nissan Motor Jeremy Bentham, Shell Hydrogen B.V. Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta, SCAQMD Kyo Hattori, Toyota Motor Corporation Chris Bordeaux for Tom Gross, U.S. DOE Sam Bonasso, U.S. DOT Chris Grundler, U.S. EPA Jan van Dokkum, UTC Stuart Johnson, Volkswagen of America Inc.

• Prior to the start of the Steering Team meeting, many members, associates, and staff attended the CaFCP 4-year Anniversary event at the Capitol in Sacramento, where six fuel cell vehicles were on display. Speakers included Governor Gray Davis and Cal EPA Secretary, Winston Hickox. Attendees also included students from local public schools.

• New representatives Jan van Dokkum, UTC; and Jeremy Bentham, Shell, were welcomed to the Steering Team
• Chris Bordeaux, US DOE provided a status update for Tom Gross about DOE and related DOD programs and solicitations. ARB Chairman Dr. Alan Lloyd and SCAQMD Board member Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta indicated their strong desire for DOE to include government agencies as project leads for the DOE solicitation on hydrogen and fuel cell vehicle demonstration and validation projects.
• Sam Bonasso, from US DOT provided an update on DOT’s continuing role in the hydrogen development which focuses on infrastructure and vehicle safety.
• Shang Hsiung, FTA provided an update on the Fuel Cell Bus Technologies Program and the Clean Bus Deployment Program which focus on 40-foot transit buses with deliverable goals through 2015.
• Chris Grundler, US EPA provided a report on EPA/DOE joint Well-To-Wheel model development efforts, which will update existing EPA and DOE models, add new dimensions to accommodate market penetration, fleet turnover, travel growth, and all vehicle classes in order to provide comprehensive life cycle modeling of vehicles.
• Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta, SCAQMD provided an update on the three phases of hydrogen fueling development efforts within SCAQMD, including the details and status of six previously approved projects, general information about four projects to be proposed for approval soon, and a list of additional potential projects under consideration for later this year or early next year.
• Anthony Eggert, UC Davis presented information on typical vehicle safety systems.
• Efforts to enhance the Associate Partner’s roles in the CaFCP and increase CaFCP coordination with DOT programs were approved.
• Jack Johnston, Exxon Mobil provided the Fuels Team update regarding the West Sacramento operations, Richmond station and the status of proposed satellite stations at Palo Alto and Auburn.
• Brian Weeks, Chevron Texaco provided an update on Codes & Standards Team efforts. US DOE has developed a template listing the existing Standards Development Organizations involved in vehicle systems and refueling facilities. Further, the CaFCP Codes & Standards Team developed a list of the ten key national and international Codes & Standards Organizations involved in fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen infrastructure. Based on responses from existing Standards Development Organizations, the CaFCP Codes & Standards Team will prepare a list of CaFCP activities and input needed to facilitate standards development.
• The Hydrogen Vehicle Facilities Study is focusing on specific hydrogen release scenarios in residential garages and will conduct additional modeling within the existing approved budget.
• "Rally through the Valley," May 14-17, 2003" is planned from Sacramento over the "Grapevine" to Los Angeles. Highlights in Southern California on May 16 include midday public ceremony, displays, test rides, and entertainment by Children’s Museum of Los Angeles, the Readers Theater Workshop performance of "LaRue and the Brown Sky" in Griffith Park at the LA Zoo, and the finish line reception at the Petersen Auto Museum in the afternoon. Fuel cell vehicles will also be on display in the morning on May 17 at the Petersen Auto Museum.
• Ronald Musnug, Michelin presented information about the next Challenge Bibendum from Sacramento to San Francisco, September 23-25, 2003. For more information, refer to www.challengebibendum.com.

On Tuesday afternoon following the meeting, a ride-and-drive opportunity was provided at CaFCP headquarters in West Sacramento.

The next CaFCP Steering Team meeting is scheduled for July 15-16 in Vancouver.

Additional information about the California Fuel Cell Partnership can be found at http://www.fuelcellpartnership.org.

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