PURPOSE:

To provide City Council with an overview and progress report of the Hydrogen Vehicle Fuel Infrastructure and Fleet Demonstration Project. 

BACKGROUND: 

In June 2003 the City of Burbank was asked by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) to participate in a five year hydrogen fuel infrastructure and fleet vehicle demonstration project.  The purpose of this project is to help the development of ultra-clean hydrogen-fueled vehicles and the development of a hydrogen fueling network in the AQMD basin. This is a five-city demonstration project.  The four other participating cities include Ontario, Riverside, Santa Ana and Santa Monica.  AQMD will also host a fueling station. 

As part of the project, each participating city will receive five hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.  All five cities will receive the same vehicle type; however the type of vehicle has not been determined to date.  The two most likely possibilities are sedans or light duty trucks. 

ANALYSIS 

One of the goals of this project is to develop a network of hydrogen-fueling stations in the Los Angeles Basin that will allow for public fueling capabilities.  Where possible, stations are proposed to be located adjacent to existing CNG fueling stations.   Each city will identify a site that will best meet these requirements.  The City of Burbank has identified a site adjacent to the CNG fuel station and the Burbank Water Reclamation Plant (BWRP).  The hydrogen station equipment will be located in a small area currently occupied by a draught resistant plant garden.  The public dispenser will be located at the CNG fuel station.  AQMD staff has visited the site and determined that it will be adequate for the hydrogen equipment.  However, this site has also been identified by BWRP for placement of plant upgrade equipment.  Discussions are taking place to resolve this issue. 

The timeline for this project is rather aggressive.  As administrator of the project, AQMD was responsible for the development and release of the RFP, evaluating proposals, establishing a qualified contractor list, and providing construction guidance.  They released the RFP on July 11, 2003.

The RFP is comprised of two main scopes of work including station construction and vehicle conversion.  The RFP requires the station be fully operational within 12 months after contract execution.  Each City will be allowed to select a contractor from the qualified list established by AQMD.

The vehicles will be delivered in two phases.  The first six vehicles will be delivered ten months after contract execution, and the additional 24 vehicles will be delivered within the following two months.  Selection of who receives the first vehicles has not been determined to date.  The vehicle conversion vendor may or may not be the station construction vendor.

On September 16, 2003, AQMD received the proposals (eight for infrastructure and three for vehicle conversion).  An independent review committee is currently reviewing these proposals.  Selection and recommendation for the vehicle conversion contractor and a qualified station construction vendor list will be presented to the AQMD Board for approval in November.

FISCAL IMPACT

AQMD has received Federal grants, which will fund construction of the stations and the conversion cost of the vehicles.  The participating cities will only be required to contribute their already budgeted funds for the purchase of the replacement base vehicles.  Therefore, there will not be an additional fiscal impact associated with the initial purchase of the hydrogen vehicles. 

As hydrogen vehicles involve new technology, their life expectancy has not yet been established; however, staff anticipates that the hydrogen vehicles will be in service for at least the same amount of time as standard gasoline vehicles.  Therefore, the City�s long-term vehicle replacement costs should stay the same with the addition of the hydrogen vehicles. 

RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends that City Council note and file this report.

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