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Center of Excellence in Pursuit of
Zero-Emission Transport
Jaimie Levin
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AC Transit
• Serving 1.5 million
people in 13 cities
• 61 million passengers
• 600 buses
• 2,000 employees
• $325 million budget
• 105 lines (26 transbay)
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AC Transit Regional Role
One of 14 Transit Operators San Francisco MUNI (33%)
BART (Capitol Corridor)
AC Transit
VTA
Samtrans
Caltrain
Golden Gate
County Connection
ACE
Wheels, Tri Delta, Vallejo,
WestCAT
Trendy California
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Is California Bankrupt?
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Fighting AB 32
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Getting Started with Hydrogen• Under Development Since November 1999
• Member of California Fuel Cell Partnership
• Member of National Hydrogen Association
• Member of California Climate Action Registry
and Climate Registry
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• An electrical generator
• NOT a battery
• A chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen
• Emits only water vapor and heat
• 120 kW to 200 kW of output
What’s A Fuel Cell?
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Opening Dedication – March 13, 2006
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1st Generation Bus
• >250,000 Miles (as of SEP 2010)
• >696,000 Passengers
• 60% Better Fuel Economy (8,200 lbs handicap)
• 43% GHG Reductions(Reforming Natural Gas;
100% reduction with solar or wind hydrogen)
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Fuel Cell Cars
• 9 Hyundai Tucson/Kia Sportage SUVs
• Operated by AC Transit Road Supervisors (150 mi/day)
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Fuel Cell Flashlights
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Bay Area Demo
HyRoad/ZEBA
• $54 Million
• 12 New Buses
in 2010
• 5 Transit Agencies
(>2,500 vehicles)
• Shared Service
• Shared Training
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Enhancements from 1st to 3rd
• 5,000 Pounds Lighter/Lower Profile
• OEM Integration/EnerDel Li-ion Batteries
• Hybrid-drive
Components
• FC Cooling
• H2 Storage
• Performance
• FC Durability
• Reliability
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Fueling
Stations –
Expand from
150 kg/Day to
420 kg/Day
62,109 kg
produced through
August 16, 2010
Richmond – Electrolysis
De-commissioned 1/4/08
Emeryville – Solar Electrolysis
and Liquid Supply
Oakland Reformer from
11/15/05 to 8/16/10;
Liquid Supply
July 2011
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Temporary Mobile Fueling
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New Emeryville Energy Station
• 240 to 420 kg/day
• 65 kg/day – Solar Electrolysis
• Six to 12 buses daily;
Expandable to 28 @ 350 Bar
• 5-6 kg/minute fueling
• 20 cars per day @ 700 Bar
• Startup – Nov/Dec 2010
• Toyota, Daimler, Hyundai,
GM and Honda
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ACT Solar Power – 1.3 Megawatts
Solar Panels
AC Transit solar
system will provide
renewable power at
Emeryville station
$6.4 Million FTA
TIGGER I Grant for
new solar system
Existing solar at AC Transit Oakland Division
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• Steps toward Commercialization
1. Fast Fueling
2. Energy Efficient
3. Green Footprint
4. Scalable
5. Integration with Existing Inline Diesel Fueling
New Station Objectives
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Lesson 1
Change Requires Both
“Carrots” And “Sticks”
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Carrots Sticks
State Transportation Funding ($32 million)
• CARB
• CEC
• Hydrogen Highway
• AB 118
• AB 1811
CARB ZEB
Regulation
California Solar Initiative (>$1.5 million) AB 32
Self-Generation Improvement Program
($2 million)
SB 375
Federal Funding ( $15 million)
• FTA, ARRA (Stimulus), DOE
Renewable
Portfolio Standard
Regional and Local Grants ($21 million) AQMD
Private Sector Contributions ($4 million)
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Lesson 2
Government Regulations
Can Level The Playing Field[Internalizing Negative Externalities]
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Public Policy Re-Direction
“When the balance sheet of a company does not
capture the true costs and risks of its business
activities,” and when that company is too big to fail,
“you end up with them privatizing their gains and
socializing their losses.”
Nandan Nilekani, Co-chairman of the Indian technology company Infosys
Excerpted from Tom Friedman , NYT Column, “The Price Is Not Right,”
March 31, 2009
1. Regulatory Controls (AB32 and SB375)
2. Carbon Tax: The Great Common Denominator
3. Funding the Gap
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Public Transport Drivers
Public Policy Concerns
• Health – Local Criteria Pollutants
• Noise Reduction
• CO2 Reduction
• Energy Security
Better Business Practices
• Fuel Price and Price Stability
• Life-cycle Costs
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Lesson 3
Government Can Facilitate
R&D Collaborations
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Phase 1 –
26 Partners – $21 Million
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Phase 2 – $54M Expansion
• SF Bay Region
• State of California
• Federal
• Regional Air District
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Phase 2 – $54M Expansion
• SF Bay Region
• State of California
• Federal ($6.4 Million Solar)
• Regional Air District
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Obama Calls for $50 Billion Spending
on Transportation (NY Times September 6, 2010)
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Lesson 4
Government as Early Adopter
Drives Down Costs
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From R&D to The Marketplace
1. Proven Performance (Vehicles and Fueling)
2. Administration’s Attention (Federal Funding)
3. Falling into The “Valley of Death”
Valley of Death
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Lesson 5
Set Realistic Goals and
Desired Outcomes
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Lesson 6
The Pathway to
Commercialization Is Evolutionary
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1st Generation Design
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2nd Generation Design
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3rd Generation Design
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Technology Thresholds
1. Performance (Reliability and Durability)
2. Cost (CapEx and Life Cycle)
3. Packaging (Weight – 8,200 lb delta, and size)
4. Fuel (Purity, Cost, Speed, STORAGE)
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Commercialization Thresholds
1. Can We Afford to Run It?
(Performance and Maintainability)
2. Can We Afford to Own It?
(Durability and Life Cycle Costs)
3. Can We Afford to Buy It?
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Lesson 7
Investment Creates Jobs
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Lesson 8
Choose Optimal
Technology Partners
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Collaborative Effort
AC Transit – Team LeaderOakland, CA
Client/End User
EnerDelIndianapolis, Indiana
Lithium-ion Battery Supplier
Van HoolBelgium
Bus Manufacturer
UTC Fuel CellsConnecticut
Fuel Cell Developer
LindeGermany
Long-term Hydrogen Supplier
Air ProductsPennsylvania
Temporary Fuel Supplier
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Why Transit?
• The Real World vs. Super Computer:
Infinite Number of Variables
• Government as Early Adopter and
Change Agent (R&D; Tech Validation)
• Centralized Fueling and Maintenance
• Professionally Trained Staff
• Public Exposure
• Energy Benefits of Using Transit
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Lesson 9
“Centres of Excellence” Advance
New Technologies Toward
Commercialization
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Proof of Concept: Performance
Next Steps Evaluation Criteria
12 Next-Generation
Buses in Service by
November 2010
1. Performance by different
operators
2. Fuel economy
3. RELIABILITY
4. HYDROGEN SUPPLY
Four or Five Regional
Center of Excellence :
Demo 25 to 50 Buses
1. Reliability
2. DURABILITY
3. HYDROGEN SUPPLY
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Lesson 10
It Takes A Champion and
A Strong Management Team
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Persistence Works – Don’t Be Afraid
to Repeat Yourself
©The New Yorker Magazine
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Project Management Team
Legal
Project Director
Administration
Project Director
Vehicles
Design and
Engineering Support
Project Director
Facilities
Maintenance Transportation Education and
Outreach
PurchasingIS Support
Service Planning
Financial
Management
Training
Executive OversightGeneral Manager and
Program Director
Capital
Planning
Policy and Strategic Planning
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$54 Million Expenditure/Revenue Plan
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Lesson 11
Build Community and Political
Support From the Outset
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How to Excite Over 100,000 People
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Governor’s Inaugural – January 2007
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Berkeley, Oakland & John Muir
• 7 Elected Board Members
• 13 Cities
• 2 Counties
• 7 State Legislators
• 6 U.S. Representatives
• 2 U.S. Senators
• City of Berkeley
• John Muir and David Brower
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Passenger Survey – 493 Passengers
• Funded by Federal Transit Administration
• ACT’s Fuel Cell Program – 84% Positive
• Program’s Effect on Opinion of Local Government
– 70% Improved
• Importance of Considering Alternative Fuels –
90% Yes
• Support Expanded Fuel Cell Bus Program at
AC Transit – 81% Yes
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Lesson 12
Education and Outreach
Opens Doors
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Outreach and Training
• Employee Training
(700 Drivers; 176 Mechanics)
• 1st Responder Training (600)
• Community Outreach (9,000)
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Education
• HyTEC Curriculum
DOE: $350,000
AC Transit: $430,000
• Conference/
Learning Center
Chevron: $380,000
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Lesson 13
Evaluation Makes
The Program Credible
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Evaluation• In Partnership with NREL,
FTA, and DOE
• DoE has approved
continued data collection
and analysis of 12 buses
and new stations through
2011.
• Monthly and Semi-annual
Performance Reports
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“Good-paying jobs don’t come from bailouts.
They come from start-ups. And where do start-
ups come from? They come from smart,
creative, inspired risk-takers. How do we get
more of those? There are only two ways:
grow more by improving our schools or
import more by recruiting talented
immigrants.”
Excerpted from Tom Friedman , NYT Column, “Start-Ups, Not Bailouts,”
April 4, 2010
The Seeds of Innovation