BOARD MEETING DATE: July 9, 2010
AGENDA NO. 13

PROPOSAL:

Issue RFP to Conduct In-Use Emissions Testing and Demonstrate Retrofit Technology for Control of On-Road Heavy-Duty Engines

SYNOPSIS:

The newly introduced on-road heavy-duty engines must meet the stringent 2010 state and federal exhaust emissions standards for NOx and PM. These engines are either stoichiometric engines with a three-way catalyst or lean burn engines with exhaust gas recirculation, selective catalytic reduction and diesel particulate filter devices. The in-use emissions from these new technologies are not well characterized, nor are their impact on air quality. This action is to issue an RFP to conduct in-use emissions testing on new natural gas and diesel engines. In addition, if the in-use testing identifies emissions higher than allowable limits, the proposers would evaluate and demonstrate further aftertreatment mitigation technologies.

COMMITTEE:

Technology, June 18, 2010, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

Approve issuance of RFP #P2011-06 to solicit cost-shared proposals to conduct in-use emission testing and, if needed, demonstrate retrofit technology for control of on-road heavy-duty engines. 
 

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

On-road heavy-duty engines are now subject to the 2010 U.S. EPA emissions standards of 0.01 gram per brake-horsepower-hr (g/bhp-hr) PM and 0.20 g/bhp-hr NOx. Engine manufacturers are using emissions credits which allow them to produce a mixture of engines certified at or below 0.20 g NOx and engines certified at a level higher than 0.20 g NOx and still comply with the emissions standards on an average basis.

These engines are either stoichiometric engines with three-way catalyst or lean burn engines with exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) and diesel particulate filter (DPF) technology to meet the emissions standards.

While recent small-scale studies have shown reduced NOx and PM emissions from trucks powered by compliant engines, other studies indicate a potential increase in exhaust emissions. In particular, in a recent heavy-duty in-use emissions measurement study conducted by the University of Colorado, ammonia emissions from liquefied natural gas trucks were found to be significantly higher due to the nature of spark- ignited engines. Studies conducted by The Netherland Organization (TNO) indicated that heavy-duty diesel engines equipped with SCR technologies have higher NOx exhaust emissions than their certified levels. As such, additional studies are required to assess the impact of the technologies on emissions from engines used in a variety of applications, particularly since the number of these engines will continue to increase in the future.

AQMD seeks to assess in-use emissions from a variety of vehicles powered by stoichiometric engines with three-way catalyst and lean burn engines equipped with or without SCR technologies to determine if the emissions performance of existing or new engines are within their certification levels and if needed, to demonstrate retrofit technologies for use on existing and new engines to ensure progress to attaining air quality standards.

Proposal

This action is to solicit cost-shared proposals to conduct in-use emissions testing and demonstrate retrofit technologies for control of on-road heavy-duty engines.

The test vehicles will involve up to 22 on-road heavy-duty vehicles used in transit, refuse, and goods movement applications and powered by engines fueled with natural gas, diesel, and combination of diesel and natural gas (dual) fuels. The engines will be categorized into five groups including natural gas engines with three-way catalysts, dual fuel engines with EGR and DPF technology, diesel engines certified at 1.2 g NOx, diesel engines certified above 0.2 g NOx without SCR technology, and diesel engines certified at or below 0.2g NOx with SCR technology. Prospective proposers will be required to perform chassis dynamometer tests of in-use emissions of total hydrocarbons, nitrogen dioxide, nitric oxide, NOx, CO, PM, ammonia, and toxic air contaminants from the vehicles. In addition, if the dynamometer tests results show emissions higher than state or federal allowable limits, prospective proposers will be required to identify a retrofit technology capable of reducing these emissions, particularly PM precursors, from the test vehicles. A group of selected test vehicles will then be retrofitted with the retrofit technology and again tested on the chassis dynamometer to assess the performance and emission-reduction potential of the technology.

Outreach

In accordance with AQMD’s Procurement Policy and Procedure, a public notice advertising the RFP/RFQ and inviting bids will be published in the Los Angeles Times, the Orange County Register, the San Bernardino Sun, and Riverside County Press Enterprise newspapers to leverage the most cost-effective method of outreach to the entire South Coast Basin.

Additionally, potential bidders may be notified utilizing AQMD’s own electronic listing of certified minority vendors. Notice of the RFP/RFQ will be mailed to the Black and Latino Legislative Caucuses and various minority chambers of commerce and business associations, and placed on the Internet at AQMD’s website (http://www.aqmd.gov) where it can be viewed by making menu selections “Inside AQMD”/“Employment and Business Opportunities”/“Business Opportunities” or by going directly to http://www.aqmd.gov/rfp/index.html. Information is also available on AQMD’s bidder’s 24-hour telephone message line (909) 396-2724.

Benefits to AQMD

The proposed project is included in the March 2010 Clean Fuels Program, “In-Use Emission Studies for Advanced Technology Vehicle Demonstration” and “Develop and Demonstrate Advanced Aftertreatment Technology.” The proposed project supports the implementation of advanced alternative fuel technology that could potentially be used to further reduce PM emissions from on-road heavy-duty vehicles.

Resource Impacts

Potential bidders will provide the total cost of proposed project. Cost sharing is expected and will be required in the RFP. AQMD staff anticipates the RFP will result in the recommendation of approximately one to three awards based on availability of funds and the quality of proposals received. 

Sufficient funds are available from the Clean Fuels Program Fund, established as a special revenue fund resulting 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 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. 

Attachment (DOC, 785k)

RFP #P2011-6 – In-Use Emissions Testing and Demonstration of Retrofit Technology for Control of On-Road Heavy-Duty Engines