BOARD MEETING DATE: September 10, 2010
AGENDA NO. 36
PROPOSAL:
California Fuel Cell Partnership Steering Team Meeting Summary and Quarterly Update
SYNOPSIS:
This report summarizes the California Fuel Cell Partnership Steering Team meeting held June 22-23, 2010 and provides quarterly updates for the period beginning January 2010.
COMMITTEE:
Technology, July 23, 2010
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:
Receive and file the attached Steering Team meeting summary and quarterly updates.
Josie Gonzales
AQMD Representative to CaFCP
CALIFORNIA FUEL CELL PARTNERSHIP
Summary of Steering Team Meeting
June 22-23, 2010
South Coast Air Quality Management District - Conference Room GB
21865 Copley Drive
Diamond Bar, CA 91765
Steering Team Representatives Attending:
Andreas Truckenbrodt, AFCC
Tom Cackette, CARB
Peter Ward, CEC
Puneet Verma, Chevron
Reg Modlin, Chrysler
Rosario Berretta, Daimler
Bob Babik, General Motors
Mark Torigian, Hyundai-Kia Motors
Ben Knight, Honda R&D America
Lance Atkins, Nissan Motor
Bill Haris, National Automotive Center
Matias Sanchez-Cane, Shell H2
Josie Gonzales, SCAQMD
Matt McClory (Day 1), Justin Ward (Day 2), Toyota
Fred Joseck, U.S. DOE
(Absent), U.S. DOT
(Absent), U.S. EPA
(Absent), UTC
John Tillman, Volkswagen
SUMMARY OF AGENDA ITEMS
The Steering Team meeting was chaired by Andreas Truckenbrodt (AFCC), with Josie Gonzales (AQMD) serving as the vice-chair.
The Decisions and Assignments from the February 2010 CaFCP Steering Team meeting were approved.
Catherine Dunwoody (CaFCP) reviewed the CaFCP progress and budget for 2010. The CaFCP budget is balanced. The CaFCP station in West Sacramento will need to continue operating next year to serve fuel cell vehicles in operation.
Catherine Dunwoody summarized legislative and non-governmental organization (NGO) outreach activity. CaFCP provided key information to NGOs prior to the release of the “CaFCP Action Plan: Progress & Next Steps” report and also met with key legislators. Environmental groups invited CaFCP to participate in the Clean Cars Initiative discussions to find common ground to adopt the most stringent ZEV regulation possible. Josie Gonzales encouraged CaFCP to educate candidates for state office and also understand their priorities. As an action item, CaFCP staff will discuss on-going outreach efforts at the next Planning Committee meeting.
Tom Cackette (CARB) stated that the current goal is for the average new car sold in California to be certified as a SULEV starting in 2014. CARB, U.S. EPA, and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are developing a white paper for federal notice of intent this fall to propose an alliance for GHG reductions by 2025. Aligning the CARB ZEV regulations with the federal Advanced Clean Car program will probably involve setting a production floor for ZEVs until 2025 with performance based standards after 2025. CARB is looking at all alternative fuels to ensure emission reductions.
Ed Williams and Kristin Macy (CFA-DMS) provided an update about the Department of Measurement Standards that adopts and enforces California minimum standards for engine fuels including hydrogen, regulates fuel labeling, measurement, and testing of quality and quantity dispensed. The CEC is providing funding for DMS activities. States adopt standards based on model regulation proposed at the national conference on weights and measures. With CaFCP member approval, CaFCP staff drafted a support letter to develop national standards for hydrogen dispensing.
Peter Ward (CEC) provided an update on the competitive solicitation released recently for co-funding hydrogen fueling stations. The CEC is also working on their annual update to their Integrated Energy Policy Report.
Matt Miyasato (AQMD) explained that incentives for hydrogen and fuel cells are available through the Air Quality Investment Program and Clean Fuels funds, but a portfolio of projects are co-funded. Local governments can provide further incentives. For example, City of Chino Mayor Dennis Yates encouraged local codes to be adopted to require new homes to be ready for natural gas vehicles. Josie Gonzales added that local governments will need to update their planning documents after the 2010 census, which is a great opportunity to encourage deployment strategies.
Fred Joseck (U.S. DOE) summarized DOE investment in Technology Validation and a National Hydrogen Storage project, and noted that DOE continues the Clean Cities program, although it is not specific to hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles.
Nico Bouwkamp (CaFCP) described support for fuel cell buses through US DOT.
Bill Haris of the National Automotive Center (NAC) said the military tries to be an early adopter of advanced technology and is proposing additional support for commercially available products and technologies. He described the proposed Advanced Vehicle and Power Initiative, which is intended to accelerate adoption of advanced vehicles (BEV, HEV, PHEV, and FCEV) that are power export/import capable to reduce petroleum consumption and emissions and to support energy security. NAC evaluates technology stateside prior to deployment. Army did a non-tactical vehicle inventory (about a million vehicles total), but the majority are leased through GSA. Replacement planned in Phase 1 through 2020 includes HEV and BEV (NEV), covering price premium for advanced vehicles and infrastructure, and in Phase 2 from 2016 – 2030, includes PHEV and FCEV. Tactical operations are very interested in bi-directional vehicles and plan to do extensive modeling with National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Up to $3.5 billion is envisioned over the next 20 years (not yet funded) for vehicle buy downs and increasing renewable power leading to a net zero energy base strategy.
Bill Elrick (CaFCP) provided a summary of vehicle and hydrogen station rollout discussions to prioritize near-term California hydrogen station needs. The supply of hydrogen and technology of station development need to develop along with the fuel cell vehicles. Automakers will provide one general support letter to CEC regarding high priority hydrogen station proposals, plus letters from individual vehicle providers on a case-by-case basis. CaFCP wants to work with NREL for GIS mapping of the hydrogen stations in California. This type of information will help CaFCP plan for needs beyond 2012. Josie Gonzales urged CaFCP to outreach to local governments regarding plans to encourage them to provide more local incentives.
Mike Kashuba (CARB) reviewed progress developing California hydrogen stations, which were co-funded by SB 76, including the Orange County Sanitation District renewable hydrogen from digester gas station that is opening later this year and the CSULA station which is planned for operation early 2011 and will serve a nearby EJ community.
Steve Mathison (Honda), presented information regarding Honda’s effort to investigate the optimum hydrogen dispensing pressure and an advanced hydrogen fueling algorithm to minimize refueling time with minimal added dispensing cost.
Joan Ogden (UC Davis) presented recent analysis about hydrogen station costs and moderated a panel discussion with Ed Heydorn (APCI), Puneet Verma (Chevron), Mike McGowan (Linde), Tim Busch (Praxair), Steve Szymanski (Proton), and Brad Smith (Shell Hydrogen).
Sami Dabbas (McWhirter Distributing Co.) provided a fuel retailer’s perspective about the interest and hurdles to adding hydrogen dispensing at existing gasoline stations.
CaFCP members provided updates about their recent and planned activities. Josie Gonzales described AQMD’s biggest challenge for the next six months will be the full funding for the AQMD hydrogen station upgrade. She thanked the members for supporting efforts to fund the continuing operation of the Burbank station. Touching on recent accomplishments Gonzales commented that AQMD recently held a successful High School conference on air quality, which over 8000 students and teachers attended. In closing Gonzales noted the caring efforts of CaFCP members who are demonstrating their commitment to improving the health and economies of local communities.
Andreas Truckenbrodt (AFCC) presented background information on hydrogen business case options. In Germany, H2 Mobility is doing a large study in two phases. In the first phase, through 2011, they are defining the business case. In the second phase, they plan to find funding to implement study results. Josie Gonzales expressed openness to further discussion. Justin Word (Toyota) proposed discussing this first in the Working Group, rather than a special group of the Steering Team. Team members agreed to two extra Working Group meetings with a follow-up report to the Planning committee in August.
Members discussed various incentives and requirements that would prepare for a commercial launch of fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen stations by 2015. Analisa Bevan (CARB) said they are considering alternatives to requirements added to the Clean Fuels Outlet regulation including different triggers, and are also considering different multipliers for ZEV fuels in the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, as well as considering reducing the renewable requirement in SB 1505 from 33% to 23% on a statewide average, plus adding trading mechanisms. She said that current vehicle labels do take into account upstream emissions and they are a start on education to consumers. However, other states have different sources of electricity supply so it is hard to be consistent nationwide. Chris White (CaFCP) noted that there is no assumed supply blend for hydrogen, which makes it confusing. Peter Ward believes all alternative fuels need a roadmap to get to commercialization. Entities involved in developing and deploying fuel cell buses, some of whom are CaFCP members, recently sent a letter to DOT supporting deployment of 200 fuel cell buses in a national demonstration.
Josie Gonzales recommended helping communities understand that building hydrogen stations creates jobs.
Catherine Dunwoody reviewed changes proposed to update operating protocols to reflect current practice by strengthening the role of the Planning committee, documenting the change in rotation of the Chair (including Automotive Sector Chair in 2012), and adding proposed meeting dates for 2011. The Planning Committee is still a subcommittee of the Steering Team, with balanced industry representation. Substitutes for Planning committee and Steering team meetings occur due to practical logistics, on a case-by-case basis. Catherine will circulate the revised version by email with responses expected within two weeks.
Catherine Dunwoody led a discussion about timing and the process to start planning for CaFCP priorities beyond 2012. In order to provide operational continuity, a proposed post-2012 plan is needed by July 2011, so CaFCP should gather input from the Working Group in September, and draft a plan by Feb 2011. The Planning Committee will discuss this effort at their next meeting.
The members thanked AQMD for hosting the meeting, and Josie Gonzales agreed that AQMD would host a Steering Team meeting again next year in June.
The next CaFCP Steering Team meeting is scheduled for October 19-20 in Sacramento.
Additional information about the California Fuel Cell Partnership can be found at http://www.fuelcellpartnership.org.
Attachments (EXE, 3.8m)
CaFCP Quarterly Activity Report, January 2010 – March 2010
CaFCP Quarterly Activity Report, April 2010 – June 2010