BOARD MEETING DATE: December 5, 2008
AGENDA NO. 4

PROPOSAL:

Execute Contract for Battery Electric Transit Bus Demonstration Project

SYNOPSIS:

In June 2008, the Board approved execution of a contract with ISE for a 300-mile range battery electric transit bus demonstration project. At the time of award, it was anticipated that battery technology would progress farther than has occurred. As a result, the range of the bus will be lower than 300 miles, and will be determined based on the best currently available battery technology, the cost of the batteries, and the overall weight of the battery pack. This action is to execute a contract with ISE Corporation at no additional cost from the original award. Funding for this project was approved in June 2008 from the Clean Fuels Fund at a cost not to exceed $290,000.

COMMITTEE:

Technology, November 21, 2008, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

Authorize the Chairman to execute the June 2008 contract award with ISE Corporation to develop and demonstrate a battery electric transit bus with a revised scope of work, in an amount not to exceed $290,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund.
 

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

In June 2008, the Board approved the funding for a 300-mile range battery electric transit bus cosponsored by CARB. At the time of the award, there were overly optimistic projections and claims by battery manufacturers on the progress of battery technology to achieve this range. Current more conservative estimates indicate a lower range based on initial testing, purchase cost and battery pack weight.
 

Proposal

Staff recommends the Board re-approve the award of a contract to ISE to develop and demonstrate a battery electric transit bus with the reduced range. The revised scope of work will evaluate current battery technologies to determine the appropriate manufacturer, battery capacity and bus chassis for this demonstration project. Initial evaluations suggest the range will be closer to 150 miles due to the weight and expense of existing technologies. The recharge time for the battery pack is anticipated to be sufficiently short to allow the use of the battery electric transit bus during the morning and evening peak hours, as specified in the original proposal. The Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Agency (LAMTA) has agreed to this change in scope and has identified several routes this bus could service.

This proposed project involves a regular size 45 foot transit bus and would be the first full-sized, modern electric bus. Staff believes this project is worthwhile to pursue even with the lower vehicle range as it provides a mechanism for transit agencies to implement CARB’s Zero Emission Bus regulation.
 

Benefits to AQMD

The demonstration project of a battery electric transit bus by ISE would implement advanced technologies for clean fuel vehicles by producing the first commercially viable battery electric transit bus. This would result in NOx and PM emission reductions to meet requirements for mobile source reductions in the 2007 AQMP, and if this project is successfully demonstrated, it will provide a viable option for transit agencies to comply with the state Zero Emission Bus regulation starting in 2015. This project is also identified in AQMD’s Clean Fuels Program 2007 Annual Report and 2008 Plan Update as a potential project under the category “Transfer and Demonstrate Hybrid and Electric Technologies to Conventional Applications.”
 

Sole Source Justification

Section VIII.B.2 of the Procurement Policy and Procedures identifies four major provisions under which a sole source award may be justified. As in June 2008, this request for sole source award is made under B.2.d (1): Projects including cost sharing by multiple sponsors. This project is being developed in partnership with CARB which is a major contributing sponsor. In addition, ISE, LAMTA, CALSTART and others are sharing the project cost.
 

Resource Impacts

There are no additional costs from the original proposal. Funding for this project was approved in June 2008 from the Clean Fuels Fund for $290,000, with total costs of $2,285,000. The cost sharing from sponsors is detailed below:

Sufficient AQMD funds are available in the Clean Fuels Fund, which is established as special revenue 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 stationary and 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.