BOARD MEETING DATE: November 4, 2005
AGENDA NO. 32

California Fuel Cell Partnership Steering Team Meeting

SYNPOSIS:

This report summarizes the California Fuel Cell Partnership Steering Team meeting held October 18-19, 2005.

COMMITTEE:

Technology, October 28, 2005. Less than a quorum was present during the discussion of this item; the Acting Chairman communicated his concurrence and recommendation that this item be forwarded for Board consideration.

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

Receive and file the attached report.

Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta
SCAQMD Governing Board

CALIFORNIA FUEL CELL PARTNERSHIP

Summary of Steering Team Meeting
October 18-19, 2005

University of California, Davis
Buehler Alumni Center
Davis, CA 95616

Steering Team Representatives Attending:

Jeff Grant, Ballard
Mike Jones, BP
Tom Cackette, Gerhard Achtelik, CARB
Peter Ward, California Energy Commission
John Brady, Chevron
Jurgen Freidrich, DaimlerChrysler
John Robbins, ExxonMobil
Kelly Brown, Ford
Alan Weverstad, General Motors
Shiro Matsuo, Honda R&D America
Tae Won Lim, Hyundai America Technical Center
Taro Hagiwara, Nissan Motor
Joel King, National Automotive Center
Phil Baxley, Brad Smith, Shell Hydrogen B.V.
Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta, SCAQMD
Kyo Hattori, Toyota Motor Corporation
Sig Gronich, U.S. DOE
Tim Klein, U.S. DOT
Amy Zimfer, U.S. EPA
Jan Van Dokkum, UTC Fuel Cells
Stuart Johnson, John Tillman, Volkswagen of America

On Monday, October 17, UC Davis hosted CaFCP Steering Team and Working Group members at a Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Vehicle Research Symposium at their Institute for Transportation Studies. Topics included the status of advanced catalysts, nanocluster hydrogen storage, thermodynamic properties of crystal structures, biofuels for hydrogen production, as well as new initiatives and plans to create an Environmental Vehicle Center. For more information, visit http://www.its.ucdavis.edu.

SUMMARY OF AGENDA ITEMS

• Catherine Dunwoody, CaFCP Executive Director, summarized the progress toward 2005 deliverables and Monterey Gardiner, CaFCP Safety Manager, presented the Safety Report.
• After a presentation by Fred Postel, W. Sacramento Fire Chief, representing the National Association of State Fire Marshalls, the CaFCP directed staff to work with the Hydrogen Executive Leadership Panel (HELP) to identify projects where CaFCP member support is needed and mutually beneficial.
• Every year, the CaFCP rotates leadership. Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta, AQMD, was unanimously elected as Vice-Chair of the CaFCP for 2006 and will serve as Chair in 2007. Al Weverstad, GM, was thanked for his leadership as Chair this year. John Brady, Chevron, the current Vice-Chair will assume the duties of the Chair of the CaFCP in 2006.
• Sig Gronich, US DOE, provided an update on the hydrogen and fuel cell demonstration program and 2006 budget request.
• Gerhard Achtelik, CARB, presented a status report on the California Hydrogen Highway network implementation plan, with timeline for SB76 funding.
• Al Weverstad, GM, CaFCP 2005 Chair, provided an update on Post-2007 planning. More in depth discussion, especially CaFCP facility needs and options, will be discussed at the next meeting.
• Belinda Aber, Chevron, provided a “Learnings” presentation about Community outreach prior to opening Chevron’s new hydrogen fueling station in Chino, and Craig Scott, Toyota, shared some preliminary vehicle program “Learnings.”
• Joan Ogden, UC Davis ITS, presented analysis of practical steps to affordable hydrogen fuel.
• A new VanHool fuel cell hybrid bus integrated by ISE was demonstrated by AC Transit and transported members to tour the UC Davis hydrogen fueling station. This bus will be placed in service by AC Transit in December.
• Adam Gromis, CaFCP, provided a progress update regarding the hydrogen station testing apparatus.
• Steve Hoffman, Air Products and Chemicals, presented a progress report for the Station Review team on station accessibility and the matrix approach under development.
• Following a presentation by Adam Gromis, the CaFCP approved drafting a letter agreement to share specific “learnings” with the Canadian Hydrogen Highway program and approved sharing specified learnings and discussing the potential for sharing learnings with other selected demonstration groups via a website in the future. CaFCP staff will provide a more detailed proposal in January.
• Chris White, CaFCP, lead discussions about the Road Rally 4 around the Bay area on September 29 – October 1 and future events including preliminary planning for a road rally next year.
• Catherine Dunwoody presented draft goals and a draft budget for 2006; the detailed program plan will be considered in January.
• Richard Friedland, Proton, and Richard Napier, San Mateo CCAG, provided a progress report about the Menlo Park energy station under development.
• Following a presentation by Catherine Dunwoody, the CaFCP approved a proposal to create a joint working group with the California Stationary Fuel Cell Collaborative, working within existing CaFCP resources.

The next CaFCP Steering Team meeting is scheduled for January 24-25 in Diamond Bar at AQMD.

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