BOARD MEETING DATE: July 9, 2004
AGENDA NO. 6
(Continued from the June 4, 2004 Board Meeting)

Issue RFP for Evaporative Emission Testing of Gasoline Heavy-Duty Hybrid-Electric Bus

SYNOPSIS:

Gasoline heavy-duty vehicles undergo emission certification of both their engine and their fuel system. Engine exhaust emissions are directly measured in a laboratory. However, unlike light-duty cars and trucks, the heavy-duty fuel evaporative control system is not directly tested because of the large size of these vehicles; these systems are certified through a technical evaluation. Because of this indirect method of evaporative certification and the lack of in-use evaluations, gasoline heavy-duty vehicles may have higher hydrocarbon emissions than expected. On March 5, 2004, the Board authorized the use of returned Carl Moyer Program funds for emission testing of gasoline hybrid-electric buses and marine vessels. This action is to issue an RFP to conduct the evaporative emission testing of a gasoline hybrid-electric bus.

COMMITTEE:

Technology, May 28, 2004, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Approve issuance of RFP #P2004-26 to solicit proposals to conduct evaporative emission testing of a gasoline heavy-duty hybrid-electric bus.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

Over 60 percent of the Basin’s NOx emissions inventory can be attributed to mobile sources, with heavy-duty trucks and buses accounting for approximately 20 percent of the NOx inventory. The U.S. EPA and CARB have adopted very stringent emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles beginning in 2007, and over time, the new low-emission trucks and buses will replace the higher emitting older vehicles in the fleet. However, reductions in NOx emissions and particulate are needed immediately in the Basin to achieve ambient air quality standards by 2010.

In October 2003, CARB certified the gasoline hybrid-electric drive system manufactured by ISE Research. This drive system has exhaust emissions of 0.4 g/bhp-hr NMHC+NOx, which makes good progress toward meeting the future transit bus standards of 0.2 g/bhp-hr NMHC+NOx starting in 2007. Because such drive systems use gasoline, an evaporative control system is needed on each vehicle to prevent hydrocarbons (gasoline vapors) from venting from the fuel tank and other components into the atmosphere. Diesel vehicles do not require evaporative controls because diesel-powered engines inherently have minimal evaporative emissions.

In order to account for these evaporative hydrocarbon emissions, gasoline light-duty vehicles are parked for multiple days in an enclosure called Sealed Housing for Evaporative Determination (SHED) and have the emitted gasoline fumes and vapors measured. However, due to their large size, gasoline heavy-duty vehicles are not usually SHED tested but have their evaporative control systems designed and certified using empirical mathematical models based on their similarity to light-duty vehicles. In addition, heavy-duty gasoline vehicles do not regularly have their evaporative emissions directly measured while in use. For example, during Smog Check, vehicles such as motor homes have certain components checked, but the evaporative emission system performance as a whole is never quantified. Without evaporative emission test data to verify compliance, there is concern that gasoline HDVs could have higher than expected evaporative emissions, which could negate the extremely low exhaust emissions of the heavy-duty, gasoline hybrid-electric drive system.

Proposal

The purpose of this RFP is to solicit cost-shared proposals to develop test equipment, establish procedures, and perform evaporative emission testing on a gasoline heavy-duty hybrid-electric bus. The evaporative testing of other gasoline heavy-duty vehicles may also be added as an option to evaluate other evaporative control designs.

Proponents will be required to secure or fabricate a large SHED enclosure for measuring evaporative emissions, drive the gasoline heavy-duty vehicle over a prescribed driving schedule, push the vehicle into the SHED enclosure, and measure emissions from a hot vehicle and during several multi-day diurnal cycles. The specific test procedures to be performed are described in detail in the attached RFP. As an option, the proponent may construct a test vehicle consisting of the ISE Research gasoline hybrid-electric drivetrain, fuel tank and evaporative control system. This functional test vehicle would be smaller in size and be able to be tested in a conventional SHED.

Outreach

In accordance with AQMD’s Procurement Policy and Procedure, a public notice advertising the RFP/RFQ and inviting bids will be published in the following publications:
 

1.	Antelope Valley Press	10.	Korea Central Daily	19.	Precinct Reporter
2.	Black Voice News	11.	La Opinion	20.	Press Enterprise
3.	Chinese Daily News	12.	La Prensa Hispana	21.	Rafu Shimpo
4.	Desert Sun	13.	La Voz Publications	22.	San Bernardino Sun
5.	Eastern Group Publications	14.	Los Angeles Daily News	23.	State of California Contracts
6.	El Chicano	15.	Los Angeles Sentinel		Register
7.	El Informador	16.	Los Angeles Times	24.	The Excelsior
8.	Inland Empire Hispanic News	17.	Orange County Register	25	The Signal
9.	Inland Valley Daily Bulletin	18.	Philippine News	26	Wave Community Newspapers

Additionally, potential bidders will be notified utilizing the Los Angeles County MTA Directory of Certified Firms, the Inland Area Opportunity Pages Ethnic/Women Business & Professional Directory; and AQMD’s own electronic listing of certified minority vendors. Notice of the RFP/RFQ will be mailed to the Black and Latino Legislative Caucuses and various minority chambers of commerce and business associations, and placed on the Internet at AQMD’s Web site (http://www.aqmd.gov where it can be viewed by making menu selections "Inside AQMD"/"Employment and Business Opportunities"/"Business Opportunities" or by going directly to http://www.aqmd.gov/rfp/index.html). Information is also available on AQMD’s bidder’s 24-hour telephone message line (909) 396-2724.

Benefits to the AQMD

The proposed project is included in the 2004 Update of the Technology Advancement Plan under, "Evaluate and Demonstrate Hybrid Heavy-Duty Vehicles." The proposed project supports the implementation of advanced emission control system that could potentially reduce heavy-duty transit bus NOx and PM emissions by 50 percent or more.

Bid Evaluation

Proposals received will be evaluated by a diverse, technically qualified panel in accordance with criteria contained in the RFP.

Resource Impacts

On March 5, 2004, the Governing board authorized the use of returned Carl Moyer Program funds for the evaporative emission testing of gasoline-hybrid transit buses. These returned funds originated from the Clean Fuels Fund as a local match to the Moyer Program. Funding for RFP #P2004-26, in the amount of $300,000, will come from these returned funds.

Attachment

RFP #P2004-26 - Evaporative Emission Testing of Gasoline Hybrid-Electric Bus

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