BOARD MEETING DATE: October 1, 2010
AGENDA NO. 5

PROPOSAL:

Execute Contract to Develop and Demonstrate Electric Drive Conversion for Fleet Vehicles

SYNOPSIS:

Medium-duty fleet vehicles represent a targeted inventory for emission reductions within our region. AC Propulsion proposes to work in partnership with the AQMD and Comcast to convert three Ford E250 service vans to electric vehicles. These converted electric service vans will be deployed in Comcast’s normal fleet to evaluate their utility, emissions and fossil fuel reduction potential when used as a service vehicle. The successful demonstration of this conversion system could lead to the additional electrification of service vehicles within Comcast’s fleet, as well as similar applications. This action is to execute a contract with AC Propulsion in an amount not to exceed $300,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund. The total cost of this program is $755,767.

COMMITTEE:

Technology, September 24, 2010, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Authorize the Chairman to execute a contract with AC Propulsion in an amount not to exceed $300,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund (31) for the development and demonstration of three electric service vans.
 

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

Medium-duty vehicles are responsible for a creating a disproportionate amount of emissions in the South Coast Air Basin. Medium-duty vehicles in the 8,500 to 14,000 lb GVWR comprise 2% of the vehicle population, but are responsible for 7.9% of the 2010 on-road mobile source NOx emissions according to EMFAC2007. The electrification of vehicles in this segment provides an opportunity to significantly reduce emissions. However, the successful deployment of electrified vehicles in this segment requires that specific vocations be properly matched that will take best advantage of the attributes of an electric vehicle. Independent and preliminary evaluations conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Electronic Power Research Institute, and the AQMD have shown that the use-profile for neighborhood service and parcel delivery applications would make these vocations an excellent candidate for electrification, through plug-in hybrid electric or fully electric vehicles.

AC Propulsion, a well-regarded converter to electric vehicles located in San Dimas, California, proposes to team with Comcast to develop and demonstrate a medium-duty electric service van to evaluate the viability of electric vehicles in this specific vocation.

Proposal

AC Propulsion proposes to convert three service vans in Comcast’s fleet to electric vehicles. The vehicles being converted are Ford E250 vans that will be supplied by Comcast. The electric drive system developed by AC Propulsion will utilize similar technology that was used in the BMW Mini Cooper and US Postal Service (USPS) programs. The system includes an AC induction motor, inverter, charger and 12V power supply. The AC induction motor is controlled by a proprietary power electronics unit that maximizes efficiency over a broad operating range and also allows energy recovery through regenerative braking. Energy storage shall be provided by a lithium ion battery pack sized to provide a driving range of roughly 80 miles. The battery pack will be chargeable from 120V to 240V sources at up to 18 kW, which could translate to a potential charge time of close to three hours.

Additionally, the program shall quantify the performance, operating cost and emissions benefits of the system, as well as refine short and long term price targets for a commercially viable electric vehicle conversion for fleet applications.

Benefits to AQMD

The expansion of the Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) Program is included in the Technology Advancement Office Clean Fuels Program 2010 Plan Update under the category of “Electric and Hybrid Technologies.” The electrification of transportation technologies has the potential for lower criteria pollutant emissions, zero local emissions, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. This can provide substantial benefits to communities, neighborhoods, and schools where these vehicles operate.

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 provision B.2.d.: Other circumstances exist which in the determination of the Executive Officer require such waiver in the best interest of the AQMD. Specifically, these circumstances are: B.2.d. (1) Project involving cost sharing by multiple sponsors. The multiple sponsors contributing financially to this project include AC Propulsion and Comcast.

AC Propulsion designs, develops and manufactures electric vehicle propulsion systems and builds vehicle prototypes. AC Propulsion sells products and conducts R&D programs for companies and research groups around the world in areas such as electric and hybrid vehicle development, battery testing, and hybrid power unit development. AC Propulsion has worked with a wide variety of automakers, government agencies and utilities; and most recently converted 600 electric Mini Coopers for BMW and undertaken a project with the USPS to develop an electric conversion for their postal delivery vehicles.

Comcast is one of the country’s largest providers of cable services and telecommunications. As of March 2009, the company operated a fleet of 40,158 vehicles, serving over 24 million video customers, 15 million high-speed Internet customers, and 6.5 million residential phone customers in the US. Comcast operates a fleet of service vans within their fleet that generally travel fewer than 80 miles per day. This service fleet would be a good candidate for electrification, both as a means to reducing criteria pollutants as well as displacing petroleum. 

Resource Impacts

The total cost for the project is $755,767 with the proposed AQMD cost not to exceed $300,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund. The project funding sources are identified in the table below.

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.