BOARD MEETING DATE: April 3, 2009
AGENDA NO. 4

PROPOSAL:

Execute Contract to Demonstrate Natural Gas-Powered Concrete Mixer Truck

SYNOPSIS:

Concrete mixer trucks are widely used in a variety of construction projects in the South Coast Air Basin. Currently, no original equipment manufacturer produces a concrete truck with a natural gas-powered engine. This action is to execute a contract with McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing Company to demonstrate a natural gas-powered concrete mixer truck. Total project cost is estimated at $380,000 with the AQMD cost not to exceed $100,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund.

COMMITTEE:

Technology, March 20, 2009, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Authorize the Chairman to execute a contract with McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing Company to develop a prototype natural gas-powered concrete mixer truck and demonstrate its performance and emissions, in an amount not to exceed $100,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund.
 

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

The concrete mixer truck population in the South Coast Air Basin is estimated at 4,700 vehicles out of a total heavy-duty vehicle fleet of 54,645, and these trucks are typically powered by 350 horsepower (hp) diesel-fueled engines. As a result, concrete mixer trucks represent 3% of the total vehicular NOx emissions and 4% of the total vehicular PM emissions in the South Coast Air Basin. A distinctive feature of concrete mixer trucks is their continual engine operation and their significantly high proportion of idling time. The engine in a concrete mixer truck is operating continuously from the time it leaves the ready-mix facility to the time it completes delivery of the product. The mixer drum is powered by the vehicle’s engine via a power take-off device and constant drum rotation is necessary to maintain product viability. As such, the engine continues to operate when the vehicle is at rest as evidenced during delivery of the concrete at the jobsite. The concrete mixer truck industry estimates that these vehicles spend 36% of their operating time at idle.
 

Proposal

The McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing Company is proposing to develop for commercialization a compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered heavy-duty concrete mixer truck for commercial sale. The current concrete mixer truck market is exclusively populated by trucks using diesel-powered engines, on chassis which accommodate a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 50,000 lbs and greater. Discussion with McNeilus has revealed that a Class-8 concrete mixer truck is typically powered with a 350 hp engine. McNeilus’ CNG vehicle will be powered by a Cummins-Westport ISLG CNG-fueled engine rated at 320 hp and 1,000 lb-ft of torque, and is CARB certified to meet 2010 NOx standards. The ISLG is comparable in power and torque to current diesel engines used in this application. The concrete mixer truck population experiences a ten percent (10%) annual turnover rate. The ISLG engine is certified to meet the 2010 NOx emission standard, so a natural gas version of this type of vehicle could have significant emission benefits.

McNeilus has developed an initial prototype of the CNG concrete mixer truck on a Kenworth chassis using the ISLG engine. This prototype vehicle represents “proof-of- concept,” but requires additional engineering and optimization for commercial sale. McNeilus will address the following tasks in this project for the purpose of introducing a commercially acceptable CNG-powered concrete mixer truck:

• Complete all necessary modifications to the CNG-powered concrete mixer truck prototype with the purpose of developing final specifications for commercialization;
• Create and conduct a six-month testing program with resident concrete mixing operations to demonstrate vehicle performance under real world conditions;
• Develop documentation on vehicle maintenance and operation for purposes of developing an “owner’s manual;” and
• Conduct engine performance and emissions testing of both a natural-gas fueled and comparable diesel-fueled concrete mixer truck.

Robertson’s Ready Mix Concrete is currently demonstrating this prototype in their existing fleet of concrete mixer trucks and the initial feedback has been favorable. Robertson’s Ready Mix officials have indicated that if the demonstration program proves successful, they would consider the purchase of up to 100 natural gas trucks within the next purchase cycle. The demonstration program is being conducted in the South Coast Air Basin, utilizing the Basin’s extensive natural gas fueling infrastructure. The demonstration program may also include two additional concrete ready-mix companies.

McNeilus is requesting up to $100,000 in funding to support the further development and refinement of the prototype currently being demonstrated. In addition, this funding will be utilized for purposes of continuing and expanding the demonstration program to other ready-mix companies.
 

Benefits to the AQMD

The AQMP relies upon the accelerated implementation of advanced technologies within Southern California to achieve federal and state ambient air quality standards and to further reductions in air toxic exposure. In this regard, the largest contributor to the vehicular emissions of criteria pollutants in the South Coast Air Basin is the in-use heavy-duty truck fleet. Efforts made to facilitate the commercialization of low NOx and PM natural gas engine technology in the heavy-duty truck sector are essential in order to achieve AQMP goals, and will complement existing AQMD efforts to increase the use of natural gas heavy-duty engine technology. Since an estimated 8% of the in-use heavy-duty truck fleet consists of concrete mixer trucks, and the natural gas engines to be used in this demonstration project will meet 2010 heavy-duty engine emission standards, the proposed project can result in important emission reductions for the South Coast Air Basin.

Sole Source Justification

Section VIII.B.2 of the Procurement Policy and Procedure identifies four major provisions under which a sole source award may be justified.  This request for a sole-source award is made under the following provisions: B.2.c. (2) – The project involves the use of proprietary technology; B.2.c.(3) - The desired services are available from only the sole-source based upon the contractor has ownership of key assets required for project performance; and B.2.d. (1) - Other circumstances exist which in the determination of the Executive Officer require such waiver in the best interest of the AQMD.  Specifically, the project involves cost sharing by multiple sponsors. 

McNeilus is a major manufacturer of concrete mixer trucks, which is considered specialized equipment. In addition, McNeilus has developed a prototype version of a CNG-fueled concrete mixer truck which the AQMD is providing additional support to further the development and demonstration in real-world applications in the AQMD.
 

Resource Impacts

The total cost for this project is estimated to be $380,000. The funding committed to the project includes cash and in-kind support as shown in the following table.

Sufficient funds are available from the Clean Fuels Fund, established as a special revenue fund resulting from the state-mandated Cleans 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 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 that support the objectives of the Clean Fuels Program.