Pathways to Near-Zero-Emission Natural Gas Heavy-Duty Vehicles
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Pathways to Near-Zero-Emission Natural Gas Heavy-Duty Vehicles A white paper from Gladstein, Neandross & Associates Last updated: May 19, 2014 Acknowledgements Gladstein, Neandross & Associates (GNA) produced this report on behalf of the Southern California Gas Company, the nation’s largest natural gas utility company and a leader in the development of new, advanced technologies which maximize the cleaner-burning characteristics of natural gas in residential, commercial, industrial and transportation applications. The authors would like to recognize the many fine staff at the Gas Company who helped with development of this report, listed below: Southern California Gas Company Ed Harte, Low Emission Vehicle Manager George Minter, Director of Policy & Environmental Solutions Jeff Reed , Director of Business Strategy & Development Allison Smith, Energy Policy Manager Lee Wallace, Environmental Affairs Manager Cherif Youssef, Technology Development Manager In addition, special thanks goes to an outstanding group of peer-reviewers who read the draft Pathways report and provided invaluable insight and astute commentary which proved essential in contouring the final document. Our team of peer reviewers includes, but is not limited to, the list of friends below: Peer Reviewers * Jack Broadbent, CEO/Air Pollution Control Officer, Bay Area Air Quality Management District Roland Hwang, Transportation Program Director, NRDC Bill Magavern, Policy Director, Coalition for Clean Air Alan Lloyd, President Emeritus, International Council on Clean Transportation Ronald Loveridge, Director, University of California, Riverside, Center for Sustainable Suburban Development About the Authors Gladstein, Neandross & Associates (GNA) is the nation’s leading consultancy on the utilization of cleaner burning alternatives to petroleum and other zero and near zero emission transportation technologies, particularly in the goods movement sector. GNA has assisted with the development and implementation of many of the nation’s largest and most successful alternative fuel and electric-powered truck and refueling infrastructure ventures, including over 100 projects for transit, refuse, municipal, local pick-up and delivery, regional trucking, port drayage, yard hostler, vessel, and long-haul trucking fleet operators. Many individuals from GNA made significant contributions to the complete process to prepare this report. GNA’s primary contributors to this report include: Cliff Gladstein , President Patrick Couch , Project Director Melissa Wake , Senior Associate Charlotte Medlock , Associate All figures and charts are sourced from Gladstein, Neandross & Associates unless otherwise noted. * The information and views contained in The Pathways to Near-Zero-Emission Natural Gas Heavy Duty Vehicles white paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the peer reviewers. ii Table of Contents List of Figures and Tables .................................................................................................................. vi List of Terms .................................................................................................................................... vii Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................1 Introduction: California’s Air Quality Challenges and Possible Solutions ..............................................3 Meeting California’s Air Quality Goals: Tough Challenges Ahead ............................................................ 4 Pushing Back the Goal Posts ................................................................................................................. 4 Short Time to Meet Air Quality Goals ................................................................................................... 4 Current Plans Won’t Provide the Needed NOx Reductions .................................................................. 6 GHG Reduction Policies Also Benefit Air Quality, but Too Slowly ........................................................ 8 Climate Protection Necessitates Accelerated CO 2, Black Carbon Reduction Strategies ...................... 9 Mobile Sources are the Problem, Especially in the Diesel-Fueled Heavy-Duty Sector ......................... 9 Battery Electric and Fuel Cell Vehicles: Crucial Technology, Insufficient Progress ............................. 12 A Solution to California’s Need: Near-Zero-Emission, Natural Gas-Fueled Heavy-Duty Vehicles .......... 15 Technology Pathways to Near-Zero & Power Plant Emission-Equivalent Natural Gas Heavy-Duty Vehicles ........................................................................................................................................... 18 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 18 Five Technology Pathways ...................................................................................................................... 18 Heavy-Duty NGVs Can Achieve Power Plant NOx Equivalency and Ultra-Low GHG Emissions .............. 20 Descriptions of Technology Pathways to Near-Zero-Emission and Power Plant Equivalent-Emissions Natural Gas HDVs .................................................................................................................................... 22 Advanced Engines ............................................................................................................................... 22 New Engine Types and New or Enhanced Combustion Cycles ....................................................... 22 Improved Accessories, Sensors, and Controls ................................................................................ 23 Waste Heat Recovery ...................................................................................................................... 23 Advanced After Treatment ................................................................................................................. 24 Selective Catalytic Reduction .......................................................................................................... 24 Lean NOx Adsorber Catalyst ........................................................................................................... 25 Three-Way Catalyst (TWC) .............................................................................................................. 25 Drive Train Hybridization and Other Improvements .......................................................................... 26 Electric Drive as an Enabler of Waste Heat Recovery ..................................................................... 27 iii Idle Reduction through Advanced Drivetrains ................................................................................ 27 Vehicle Integration .............................................................................................................................. 27 Aerodynamics ................................................................................................................................. 28 Rolling Resistance ........................................................................................................................... 28 Weight Reduction ........................................................................................................................... 28 Fuels, Storage, and Infrastructure ...................................................................................................... 28 Hydrogen Enriched Natural Gas (“Hydrogenization”) .................................................................... 29 Renewable Biomethane .................................................................................................................. 29 Examples of HDV Applications for Pathways to Zero-NOx and Low-GHGs ............................................ 33 Recommended Actions .................................................................................................................... 35 Develop and Promulgate Performance-Based Emission Standards ................................................... 35 Develop and Implement Optional Low-Emission Standards .............................................................. 35 Direct Funding to R&D ........................................................................................................................ 37 Develop Policies and Incentives to Encourage Early Demonstration Projects ................................... 37 Encourage Public-Private Partnerships ............................................................................................... 37 Develop and Implement Incentives for Commercialization ............................................................... 38 Modifications to Cost-Effectiveness Formulas ............................................................................... 38 Establishment of Rebate Programs for Pathway Technologies ...................................................... 39 Establishment of a Voucher Program ............................................................................................. 40 Moratorium on the Collection of State Excise Taxes ...................................................................... 40 Moratorium on the Collection of State Sales Taxes........................................................................ 41