AQMD’s Five Cities Program: Demonstrating Hydrogen

Vehicles and Infrastructure

Patricia KwonSouth Coast Air Quality Management District

Five Cities Program Goals 30 hydrogen vehicles and 5 stations Hydrogen is a potential long term

fuel/vehicle option Ongoing programs (light duty,

transit) Increase hydrogen fueling

infrastructure Provide demand for hydrogen

fueling Accelerate implementation of

clean fuels and advanced technologies

Achieve air quality, criteria pollutants, GHG reductions, alt fuel objectivesRiverside station grand opening

Five Cities Program Sites

Cities of Burbank, Ontario, Riverside, Santa Ana, Santa Monica

Delivery of Vehicles and Stations

1 AQMD station not part of Five Cities program2 Electrolyzer replaced with 700 bar station SMR in Sept 2008 (108 kg production and 60 kg storage)

City Vehicles Delivered

Station Open

Technology Production Storage

AQMD1 4/06 5/05 Electrolyzer 24 kg/day 60

Santa Ana 4/06 1/06 Mobile Refueler

150

Ontario 4/06 1/06 Mobile Refueler

150

Riverside 4/06 1/06 Electrolyzer 12 kg/day 60

Burbank 4/06 1/06 Electrolyzer2 12 kg/day 60

Santa Monica

4/06 6/06 Electrolyzer 12 kg/day 60

H2 Station Specifications

Air Products installed PEM electrolyzer based H2 refueling systems for Burbank, Riverside, Santa Monica

Mobile refueling units (HF-150) for Santa Ana and Ontario

HF-150Riverside station dispenser

Conversion of Prius to H2

Quantum converted Prius to H2ICE Dedicated H2 fuel system using

components designed for high pressure H2 exposure

FMVSS front, side, rear barrier crash testing at 30.5 mph without fuel leakage

Quantum accumulated 10,000 miles and 200 hours dyno accumulation

Emission certification to SULEV standards

Performance of H2 Vehicles

H2 ICE vehicles display similar fuel economy as gasoline prius (46 mpg) or first gen FCV (45 miles/kg)

Fuel economy for H2 vehicles consistent over time (2005-2009)

Emissions well below SULEV levels

Data Collection Methodology

Data collection and analysis Vehicle performance data (trip logs,

emissions, fuel economy) Infrastructure data (fuel, maintenance

logs, electricity use) Survey data (user perceptions)

Fuel Economy─ICE vs Gas Prius and FCV

Fuel economy for mobile refuelers at Ontario and Santa Ana adjustedComparison to 2004 Gas Prius, first generation FCV from AQMD fleet, and 2010 Honda FCX Clarity (combined fuel economy)

User Feedback

Evaluation plan created Vehicles on the road for

3+ years Surveys assess user

experience, technical issues, future upgrades

Drivers and maintenance staff surveyed in 2008 and 2010 to assess perceptions over time

Survey Findings─ Quality of Driver Experience

Drivers report two different types of driving experiences

41% of drivers using vehicles daily (average 40 miles per vehicle trip) report few or no problems with vehicle performance

51% of drivers use vehicles weekly (average 10 miles per vehicle trip) report problems fairly often

Technical Challenges

Water accumulates in engine oil if engine is not warmed up (very short drive cycle)

Tank packaging in vehicle (design tank for car vs design car for tank)

Performance vs emissions Vehicle range (2 or 3 tanks) Hesitation/power from

water accumulation

Insert hole in resonator to remove water created during hydrogen combustion

Resolution of Technical Issues Fleet staff more so than drivers felt technical issues were mostly or completely resolved

Software upgrades for improved emissions and performance Startup issues but continuous improvements made throughout program

Technical Issue Drivers Fleet Staff

Hesitation/Power 25 86

Maneuverability 40 67

Water Accumulation in Oil 14 57

Quality of Driving ExperienceCompared to a gas powered Prius, fleet staff and

drivers agreed or strongly agreed that H2 vehicles had similar…

Driving Experience Parameters Drivers Fleet Staff

Performance 46 57

Maneuverability 61 71

Power 43 57

Minimum Requirements for New H2 Vehicles

Responding Agree or Strongly Agree

Drivers Fleet Staff

Perform similarly to gas vehicles 55 71

Have similar power 65 57

Meet minimum range of 100 miles 60 50

Lessons Learned

First impressions on vehicles hard to reshape

Range anxiety takes time to overcome

This vehicle conversion needs longer vehicle trips (40 miles) and daily driving on freeways (higher engine temp)

Potential Next Steps─Infrastructure

• Upgrading station software to collect vehicle ID and odometer readings to link H2 dispensed with mileage at same point in time

• Modify software to lower cost of operation—produce H2 during off peak hours

• Establish WiFi connection for laptop for automatic collection of station data

Potential Next Steps─Vehicles

Continue program and mileage accumulation to collect additional vehicle data

Add additional hydrogen storage capacity to increase vehicle range

Place vehicles with drivers that can drive them daily and on longer vehicle trips

Thank YouFor more information please contact

Patricia Kwon at (909) 396-3065

pkwon@aqmd.gov