BOARD MEETING DATE: May 6, 2005
AGENDA NO. 32

Technology Committee

SYNOPSIS:

The Technology Committee met on April 22, 2005. Major topics included Technology Advancement items reflected in the regular Board Agenda for the May Board meeting. A summary of these topics with the Committee's comments is provided. The next Technology Committee meeting will be on May 27, 2005 at 12:00 p.m. in CC-8.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

Roy Wilson, Chair
Technology Committee

Attendance: Committee Chair Roy Wilson and Committee Member Miguel Pulido participated by video-teleconference. Committee member Dennis Yates was in attendance at District headquarters. Members Wilson, Pulido and Yates voted on agenda items 1, 3, and 4. After these votes, Ms. Verdugo-Peralta arrived at 12:15 and participated, with the previously noted Committee members, in voting on agenda items 2, 5, and 6.

MAY BOARD AGENDA ITEMS

1. Execute Contract to Cosponsor Demonstration and Evaluation of Pre-Commercial Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vans in AQMD Fleet and Transfer Funds From Clean Fuels Program to LADWP Settlement Projects Fund - AQMD is currently participating in a project to demonstrate two gasoline-fueled plug-in hybrid vans designed with 20 miles zero emission range. The proposed action is to expand the demonstration of these prototypes in actual fleet use. Daimler Chrysler will produce at least 30 pre-commercial plug-in hybrid electric Sprinter vans and place them in fleet demonstrations in North America and Europe. EPRI will coordinate project participants in North America to evaluate design goals including performance, emissions, fuel economy, and ZEV range and evaluate operational data. Staff recommends that AQMD participate in the program by demonstrating five of these gasoline-fueled plug-in hybrid passenger vans in the AQMD fleet. Total project cost is $12,000,000 including AQMD cost not to exceed $933,050 from the Clean Fuels Fund. In addition, this action will transfer $66,950 from the Clean Fuels Fund to the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP) Settlement Projects Fund to replace funds previously transferred to the Air Quality Investment Program (AQIP) Special Revenue Fund for electric lawn mower exchange within the LADWP jurisdiction.
    
   Moved (Pulido), seconded (Yates) and unanimously recommended for approval by members Wilson, Pulido and Yates.
    
2. Execute Contract to Cosponsor Upgrade and Evaluation of Plug-In Hybrid Electric Sedan with Lithium Polymer Batteries and Vehicle-to-Grid Power Flow - AQMD previously awarded a contract to AC Propulsion for the development and evaluation of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle with distributed power generation capability using off-board natural gas and Panasonic valve-regulated lead acid batteries. The cost to develop and evaluate the vehicle was $755,000 including contributions from Volkswagen, ARB, AQMD, AC Propulsion, and NREL. This action is to upgrade the vehicle with high power lithium polymer batteries, including the control system, to increase the zero emission range, improve the performance, and reduce the total vehicle weight. Staff recommends supporting the upgrade at a cost not to exceed $25,300.
    
   Moved (Verdugo-Peralta), seconded (Yates), and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
3. Execute Contract to Cosponsor Conversion of Light-Duty Vehicle to Plug-In Hybrid Electric - The AQMD has actively sponsored hydrogen infrastructure and vehicle (fuel cell and internal combustion engine) projects to demonstrate their viability and benchmark their performance. One potential barrier to ultimate consumer acceptance is the range achievable by these vehicles. Long-term research is continuing on hydrogen storage solutions but an immediate and attractive solution is utilizing battery-dominant or "plug-in" capability. This solution takes advantage of mature vehicle battery technology and enables zero-emission miles. This action proposes to convert a 2005 Toyota Prius to a plug-in hybrid and demonstrate improved mileage and zero emission range. Total project costs are $539,000, with AQMD requested support not to exceed $159,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund.
    
   Moved (Pulido), seconded (Yates) and unanimously recommended for approval by members Wilson, Pulido and Yates.
    
4. Execute Contract to Participate in California Fuel Cell Partnership for Calendar Year 2005 and Provide Support for CaFCP Regional Coordinator Located at AQMD - On March 17, 2000, the Board approved joining the California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP) as a full member. The CaFCP is a collaborative group composed of government agencies, automobile manufacturers, fuel suppliers, fuel cell technology providers and associate partners. Their primary focus is to demonstrate fuel cell vehicles through on-road operation in California and increase public awareness of the vehicles and fueling. This action is to continue AQMD’s participation in the CaFCP in an amount not to exceed $83,800 for calendar year 2005, and to also co-fund 50 percent, in addition to office space and utilities, for the CaFCP Regional Coordinator position located at the AQMD in an amount not to exceed $50,000. The total amount for the CaFCP activities will therefore not exceed $133,800.
    
   Moved (Pulido), seconded (Yates) and unanimously recommended for approval by members Wilson, Pulido and Yates.
    
5. Execute Contracts to Cosponsor Incentive Buy-down Program for CNG Home Refueling Appliance - Light- and medium-duty natural gas vehicles (NGVs) have been used primarily by centralized fleets, and expanding the use of alternative fuel vehicles to the general consumer market will further reduce air pollution in the Basin. Market research indicates that a major concern of consumers owning alternative fuel vehicles is availability of fueling infrastructure. Similar market research has indicated that availability of a home refueling appliance (HRA) to the vehicle consumer market would broaden the consumer base for NGVs. The AQMD has funded the development and commercialization of a HRA and the appliance is now available to the consumer. Due to the extensive research development efforts, the initial rollout cost of the HRA is significantly more expensive than anticipated. As such, last month the MSRC approved a buy-down program for the HRA. This action is to request Board approval to match the MSRC buy-down incentive for the HRA to further incentivize consumer interest in alternative fuel vehicles. Specifically, the proposed action is to execute sole-source contracts with American Honda Company at a cost not to exceed $300,000 and Fuelmaker Corporation at a cost not to exceed $100,000, to provide an additional $1,000 in incentive funding per HRA. The total cost will not exceed $400,000 (for 400 units) from the Clean Fuels Fund.
    
   Committee member Cynthia-Verdugo Peralta expressed concern as to potential permitting obstacles that might occur with respect to variations in building codes from city to city. This concern is borne from past experience regarding the home recharging units for electric vehicles. Committee member Yates indicated that the City of Chino had drafted a resolution to address this issue, and suggested a similar draft resolution be sent to cities which can serve two purposes: 1) alert cities of the roll-out of the CNG home refueling appliance and particulars regarding this equipment and its use; and 2) propose that cities amend their building codes for new construction to include proper gas pipe sizing and gas connections to accommodate and ease installation of the CNG home refueling appliances. Committee member Yates also suggested approaching the City of Los Angeles first, as many cities simply adopt or incorporate that city’s building code language. Committee member Verdugo-Peralta indicated CEC should also be included, with specific reference to Title 24 of the Building Code.
    
   Moved (Pulido), seconded (Verdugo-Peralta) and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
6. Approve Request for Additional Resources to Conduct MATES-III Monitoring for Additional Year - The Board has allocated funds to conduct the Multiple Air Toxics Exposure Study (MATES-III) for an 18 month period which includes a one year air toxics monitoring element slated to end in April 2005. Due to the unusually high levels of rainfall this winter, air toxics monitoring data collected to-date indicate a much cleaner year than normal. As such, staff believes that extending the MATES-III air toxics monitoring element by an additional year will provide valuable information regarding the variation in air toxics levels from year to year and an indication of what current levels are in a more normal meteorological year. To conduct the additional year of measurements, staff has identified additional resource needs including retaining temporary staff services and extending external studies to better quantify diesel emission contributions. This action is to request the Board's approval for $835,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund to conduct the additional year of measurements.
    
   Committee Member Verdugo-Peralta noted that she had spoken with Dr. Shankar Prasad of CalEPA who indicated he had some questions regarding measurements used by staff for MATES III. Dr. Jean Ospital responded that he was in contact with Dr. Prasad and would follow up on this matter.
    
   Moved (Verdugo-Peralta), seconded (Yates) and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
7. Execute Contract to Cosponsor Development and Certification of a Heavy-Duty Natural Gas Engine Meeting 2010 Emission Standards
    
   This item was withdrawn from the agenda for hearing at a later date.

OTHER BUSINESS - There was no other business.

Public Comment Period - Mr. John Billheimer of Enviro-Reality, suggested that the uncertainty in measuring PM10 particles from a source needs to be addressed.

The meeting was adjourned.

Attachment A - Attendance

Attachment A - Attendance
 

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