BOARD MEETING DATE: September 11, 2009
AGENDA NO. 28
PROPOSAL:
California Fuel Cell Partnership Steering Team Report and Quarterly Activity Report
SYNOPSIS:
On April 3, 2009, the Board approved the proposal to renew membership with the California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP) for 2009. This report summarizes the California Fuel Cell Partnership Steering Team meeting held June 23-24, 2009 and provides an activity report for the period beginning January 2009.
COMMITTEE:
Technology, July 24, 2009
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:
Receive and file the attached Steering Team meeting and quarterly activity reports.
Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer
CALIFORNIA FUEL CELL PARTNERSHIP
Summary of Steering Team Meeting
June 23-24, 2009
Lake Arrowhead Resort
27984 Highway 189
Lake Arrowhead, CA 92352
Steering Team Representatives Attending:
Andreas Truckenbrodt, Automotive Fuel Cell Co.
Tom Cackette, CARB
Susan Brown, CEC
Nicole Barber, Chevron
Reg Modlin, Chrysler
Rosario Berretta, Daimler
Al Weverstad, General Motors
Jong Jin Park, Hyundai-Kia Motors
Ben Knight, Honda R&D America
Lance Atkins, Nissan Motor
Bill Harris, National Automotive Center
Jim Volk, Shell Hydrogen
Roy Wilson, SCAQMD
Takehito Yokoo, Toyota Motor Corp.
(absent), U.S. DOE
(absent), U.S. DOT
(absent), U.S. EPA
Ken Stewart, UTC
Ingo Scholz, Volkswagen
SUMMARY OF AGENDA ITEMS
- The Steering Team meeting was chaired by Reg Modlin, Chrysler LLC, with Jim Volk, Shell Hydrogen, serving as Vice Chair. Reg Modlin welcomed representatives from new Associate Member Linde.
- Reg Modlin, Chrysler and Catherine Dunwoody, CaFCP described the reduction in the proposed DOE 2010 budget for hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles and the CA budget issues. CaFCP plans to work with NHA and USFCC to restore DOE funding. CaFCP members will reaffirm that their continuing plans for bringing fuel cell vehicles to California are on track; that state funds previously committed for hydrogen stations are being properly and efficiently spent; and that continuing state and federal funds for hydrogen stations are essential for success. CaFCP staff and members will continue to educate elected officials and candidates about the progress and plans for fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen.
- Tom Cackette, ARB, and Susan Brown, CEC, provided an overview of the regulatory landscape for hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles in CA, the CA Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Regulation, the SB 1505 renewable requirement for hydrogen, the CA Clean Fuel Outlet (CFO) Program, the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), and AB 118 funding and discussed the relationship between the requirements.
- In developing “ZEV2” requirements, the focus will shift from smog to greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions, and determine market acceptance to early commercialization (as opposed to earlier demonstrations), with 80% GHG reductions by 2050 starting in MY 2015.
- The CFO regulation was adopted in 1991 for methanol, revised in 2000 for CNG, and for example, if 20,000 cumulative fuel cell vehicles are sold in non-fleet operation, owners of large gasoline stations must provide 17,800 kg/day of hydrogen. In December 2009 ARB staff will provide a ZEV update to their Board, with a ZEV2 hearing planned one year later.
- The LCFS requires 10% reduction in carbon intensity by 2020 from low carbon corn or sugar ethanol, cellulosic ethanol, renewable diesel and biodiesel, and electricity, hydrogen and natural gas. The Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) is a requirement on electric utilities; the LCFS is a requirement on liquid fuel providers.
- AB 118 provides $120M/year for 7½ years thru 2015. CA can’t pay companies to comply with a regulation, but can provide incentives to unregulated parties in certain cases. For example, ZEV2 may require production/placement of minimum numbers of vehicles, but incentives from AB 118 can go to purchasers to reduce the incremental cost. However, if the cost of hydrogen fuel is subsidized by AB 118, credit could not be used for LCFS compliance. If production process development or infrastructure is funded, credits for H2 fuel sold are not restricted. However, if station is required by CFO to provide an alternative fuel, AB 118 funding not allowed for the station.
- In developing “ZEV2” requirements, the focus will shift from smog to greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions, and determine market acceptance to early commercialization (as opposed to earlier demonstrations), with 80% GHG reductions by 2050 starting in MY 2015.
- Catherine Dunwoody, CaFCP, led a discussion about implementing the CaFCP Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle and Station Deployment “Action Plan.”
- The CaFCP Action Plan is being referenced in other forums now due to outreach. CaFCP met with city of Santa Monica staff, Irvine city staff & Irvine Mayor Kang, and held a workshop in Torrance during the CaFCP Hydrogen Road Tour.
- The Torrance workshop provided information, a ride & drive, and with Torrance Fire Department support had 40 attendees. The CA Department of Measurement Standards (DMS) received $3.5M from the CEC portion of AB 118 funds and requested $2.5M federal ARRA funds for the CaFCP station in West Sacramento.
- Matt Miyasato, AQMD, presented an overview of AQMD applications to DOE Clean Cities & CEC AB 118 solicitations for hydrogen station development.
- Tim Brown, UC Irvine presented slides starting with background about the Department of Energy support for the National Fuel Cell Research Center at UCI starting in 1998 and describing their proposals for state and federal co-funding of hydrogen stations.
- Since the CaFCP Action Plan was adopted, CaFCP staff met with Mayor Kang, had a follow-up meeting with city staff & Irvine Company, and Irvine would like to be considered a model hydrogen community. Further discussion resulted in members directing CaFCP staff to develop a tool to track progress on hydrogen station development in more detail, showing how to fill potential gaps between hydrogen demand and supply which are anticipated to grow. If additional hydrogen stations in priority areas like Santa Monica and Torrance don’t get funded, fuel cell vehicles won’t be able to be deployed as planned.
- The Decisions and Assignments from the February CaFCP Steering Team meeting were approved. Notice must be received by CaFCP before Sept. 1 to end membership for the following calendar year in order for CaFCP to budget appropriately for each year.
- The CaFCP Action Plan is being referenced in other forums now due to outreach. CaFCP met with city of Santa Monica staff, Irvine city staff & Irvine Mayor Kang, and held a workshop in Torrance during the CaFCP Hydrogen Road Tour.
- Each member provided a short update on recent activities. Roy Wilson, AQMD, reported that the AQMD Governing Board approved release of an RFP to upgrade the AQMD hydrogen station to increase the capacity (up to 150 kg/day) and provide both 350 and 700 bar pressure fueling. The Board also provided $750,000 co-funding for a renewable hydrogen station in Fountain Valley at the Orange County Sanitation District. This is the station co-funded by the CARB, DOE and project partners Air Products, Fuel Cell Energy, and UC Irvine. In addition, AQMD approved co-funding to develop a hydrogen home fueling system. He also invited everyone to attend the AQMD Green Tech Connect Forum in Pasadena August 3-4.
- Catherine Dunwoody, CaFCP, reviewed the CaFCP progress and budget for 2009. Good progress on 2009 goals with outreach events around Sacramento and in southern California for very low cost. Bus fueling testing is ongoing and GTI is helping with lab testing. The budget is on track or slightly under budget. Members agreed to update the membership protocols and set meeting dates for next year. A consensus of CaFCP members reaffirmed that only CaFCP members are allowed to use CaFCP facilities.
- Chris White, CaFCP, reviewed the results of the 2009 Hydrogen Road Tour May 26 – June 3. The tour made a lot of stops in early markets in southern California including UC Irvine, Torrance, Santa Monica, West Los Angeles, and Burbank. Most of the fuel cell vehicles had more range than expected and were able to skip some stops. The route climbed three mountain grades, and some fuel cell vehicles raced up the hills. 13 fuel cell vehicles from 7 automakers went all the way – 1700 miles from Chula Vista, CA to Vancouver, British Columbia. A history of successful multi-day long-distance road tours leaves very little left to prove technically about the capabilities of fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen fueling, so next year, CaFCP will probably focus on new types of exciting events in early hydrogen communities.
- Bill Elrick, CaFCP, worked with DMS to select Air Products and Chemicals to provide leased equipment, and submitted a proposal to ARPA-E for federal co-funding for a new hydrogen station at CaFCP in West Sacramento to begin operation by next May. ARPA-E funding is for two years for transformative research leading to commercialization.
- CaFCP members agreed to invite NREL to be an Associate member (sponsored by AQMD).
The next CaFCP Steering Team meeting is scheduled for October 20-21 in Sacramento.
Additional information about the California Fuel Cell Partnership can be found at http://www.fuelcellpartnership.org.
Attachments (EXE, 2.22k)
CaFCP Quarterly Activity Report, January 2009 – March 2009
CaFCP Quarterly Activity Report, April 2009 – June 2009