Promoting Clean Vehicles in a Sustainable South Bay

The Local Use Vehicle Demonstration Program

June 2011

Criteria Pollutants Green House Gas emissions Rising oil prices

Existing SB 375 strategies do not suit South Bay conditions because it is mature, dense & transit poor

Lacking consumer awareness of Clean Vehicle options

Problem

Sustainable South Bay Strategy An alternative SB 375 mobility and land use strategy

Formally adopted by the SBCCOG Board of Directors Addresses:

land use options that promote local trips transportation options that fit the demand for local trips

Based on five years of research Aside from the commute trip – virtually all trips are under 3

miles These conditions are ideal for locally oriented zero-emission

vehicles

Solution: Sustainable South Bay

The LUV Demonstration Program is testing electric Local Use Vehicles (LUVs)

7 small, short range & low speed cars for taking ‘local’ trips Driven by local residents for 3-6 months at a time Demonstrating use on local streets

Previously only in closed campuses Designed to:

Help overcome consumer resistance to unfamiliar technologies

Inform public policy makers about the practical barriers to wide spread adoption of Local Use Vehicles

SSBS Mobility Component:The LUV Program

Contract with AQMD approved July 2009 Implementation planning July 2009 - 2010 LUV vehicles placed in May 2010 Research includes 18 month active vehicle use

Twelve months have been completed Analysis do date suggests:

Successful consumer acceptance Higher than expected emission reductions

Milestones

GEM e4

Vantage CrewCab

GEM e4

Wheego Whip

Matching Vehicle Types to Trip Types

Early Adopters Focus Groups Vehicle Waiting List Surveys Social Media

Proving Consumer Acceptance

Enthusiastic participants Their original gas guzzlers sit unused

Sometimes so long they have to get a jump start when they try to use their old cars

Several of our drivers are interested in purchasing a LUV to replace one of their vehicles

Travel time is not an issue for local trips

Consumer Acceptance

Collection Methods GPS vehicle tracking Drivers Logs

Continual Data Enhancements Handheld GPS data loggers Energy Use Monitors

Data

Monthly VMT

Users - 50

100 150 200 250 300 350 400

Residential Monthly VMT by User Household 1

Household 2Household 3Household 4Household 5Household 6Household 7Household 8Household 9Household 10

Round Trip Analysis

Out an

d Back

Out an

d Back

+ 1

Out an

d Back

+ 2

Out an

d Back

+ 3

Out an

d Back

+ 4

Out an

d Back

+ 5

Out an

d Back

+ 6

Out an

d Back

+ 7 - 40 80

120

Ave Monthly Trip Chaining Patterns

Ave Min Max - 2 4 6 8

10 12 14 16 18

Round Trip Distance Traveled

Household 1Household 2Household 3Household 4Household 5Household 6Household 7Household 8Household 9

Local Driving Patterns

Worksit

e 1

Worksit

e 2

Worksit

e 3

Work Er

rand

Eat M

eals

Grocery

Shop

ping

Other S

hopp

ing

Perso

nal S

ervice

s

Drop Off

Commun

ity M

eetin

gs

Enter

tainm

ent

Atten

d Scho

ol

Medica

lOthe

r - 1 2 3

Ave Distance from Home - MilesHousehold 1Household 2Household 3Household 4Household 5Household 6Household 7Household 8Household 9Household 10

GPS data is translated into detailed vehicle use profiles.

Use profiles include Monthly VMT Distances traveled per trip Travel time Destinations frequented by drivers

Data allows GHG and Criteria Pollutant reduction calculations

Use Profiles

The GPS data provide detailed feedback on the viability of existing street networks for Local Use Vehicles

Through GPS route mapping the SBCCOG is able to identify preferred low speed vehicle routes and make recommendations for infrastructure improvements where there are gaps in low speed accessibility

Infrastructure

Documents local travel patterns Profiles high performing multi-functional

neighborhood centers Clustering destinations supports

redevelopment and VMT reduction strategies

Implications

Benefits: Emission Reduction

LUV Annual Emission ReductionsEmissions Type Average Driver Minimum Use Maximum Use

TOG 665.3 402.7 1,071.5

CO 7,398.1 3,486.4 11,362.0

NOX 610.0 286.5 960.3

PM10 31.1 14.4 47.8

SOX 3.3 1.4 6.4

CO2 176,639.0 63,082.5 378,180.2

Gasoline consumption gal 116.1 39.7 277.7

Demonstrates potential emissions reductions from LUVs Such as replacing 60% of the 243,800 second

and third vehicles per household in the South Bay with LUVs

Benefits: Future Emission Reductions

Equivalent CO2 Reductions 150,000 LUVs** Ave Min Max

Tanker trucks of gasoline not delivered 321 115 687

Gallons of gass saved 17,420,182 5,953,500 41,655,932

Trees planted per year 616,293 220,095 1,319,471

GHG emissions per household ranged from 13% low use 50% high use

VMT reductions per household ranged from 15% low use 60% high use

Impact

Reductions from 150,000 LUVs

Household Emission ReductionsEmissions Per Month - Grams Ave Min Max

TOG 43% 15% 82%

CO 36% 10% 79%

NOX 34% 9% 75%

PM10 34% 8% 79%

SOX 24% 3% 71%

CO2 14% 1% 45%

Gasoline 37% 8% 100%

This pilot is a proof of concept that is replicable throughout LA County’s mature suburban regions for areas looking for low cost VMT reduction strategies Economic revitalization strategies Congestion relief strategies

Unintended consequence of our data collection Valuable data for utility companies and cities looking for guidance

regarding optimized placement of electric vehicle charging stations Based on our detailed suburban electric vehicle travel pattern studies

Southern California Edison has already approached the SBCCOG to collaborate on charging station placement plans for the LA area

Benefits: Multiple Uses of Data

Provides critical information for local infrastructure for clean vehicles including Bicycles Neighborhood Electric Vehicles Emerging clean vehicle technologies

Benefit: Infrastructure Guidance

LUV analysis has resulted in a proof of concept for the Sustainable South Bay Strategy

Low speed affordable electric vehicles could substantially reduce emissions from personal vehicles at low public cost

In contrast, implementation of existing SB 375 emission reduction methods would provide VMT reductions of less that 8%

The LUV demonstration program has provided data to South Bay cities that will assist them with Local land use strategies to further reduce VMT by clustering

destinations to keep trips short and local

Environmental Benefits

With this demonstration of the value of Local Use Vehicles the SBCCOG has set the stage for future programs Targeting the replacement of 60% of the

243,800 second and third vehicles in the South Bay with alt fuel vehicles

Encouraging households to start transitioning to clean passenger vehicles

Benefits: Future Programs

Promoting conversion to clean vehicles in the South Bay Exploring virtual auto malls Testing and documenting consumer acceptance for

emerging types of clean vehicles Adding clean vehicle info to the comprehensive

outreach ongoing at the SBESC Participating in developing plans for the proper

placement of infrastructure in the South Bay to support clean fuel vehicles of all types

Next Step