A Billion Miles on CNG What s Next? Advanced Technology Buses at LA Metro John Drayton Director of Vehicle Technology Los Angeles Metro June 2016
Los Angeles Metro History of Alternative Fuels and CNG Engines
History of Metro Alternative Fuel and CNG Buses Metro s Alternative Fuel Fleet First 10 CNG buses purchased in 1988 Purchased fleet of 333 Methanol buses 1989-1992 AFI Policy Adopted - Purchased only CNG buses since 1992 First fleet purchase of 294 CNG buses in 1995 CNG Fueling Public/Private Partnerships in 1998 100% CNG Operation since 2011 2500 CNG buses; 85m+ miles/year. ~ 1.5 billion miles on CNG buses 1973 Steam Bus GMC New Look bus with custom built Leer Steam Engine Unreliable, inefficient, high emissions Not every idea is a good one
New Bus Procurements Complete 900 bus New Flyer Delivery - October 2016. New RFP being released for up to 1000 40 and 60 buses for Metro s fleet Conventional CNG or Zero Emission (most likely battery electric buses) Low NOx Near Zero CNG engines 90% Cleaner than current CNG engines! Wifi enabled for security, operating data, potentially for passengers Base order is for up to 300 40 buses, and 100 60 buses for delivery by mid 2019 Will consider awarding a limited number as Zero Emission buses Expect to see similar features and amenities to current New Flyer buses
Alternative Fuel Basics What are Hydrocarbons? Methane Gas (CNG) CH 4 Diesel Fuel C 15 H 32 H H C H H H H H C C C H H H H H H H H H H H H C C C C C C C C C C C C H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H More Carbon = More Energy + More Emissions Hydrogen: H 2 High Fuel Cost, lowest emissions Methane (CNG): CH 4 Lower Fuel Cost, lower emissions Gasoline: C 6 H 14 Higher Fuel Cost, higher emissions Diesel: C 15 H 32; Higher Fuel Cost, higher emissions Coal: C 240 H 90 O 4 NS Lowest Fuel Cost, highest Emissions Electricity: NA Note - Primarily sourced from hydrocarbons.
Current Outlook for CNG at Metro We foresee continued refinement of CNG engines, exhaust systems. CNG fuel prices expected to be stable diesel fuel prices are expected to be more volatile in our region Diesel currently $1.80/gallon fuel cost ~$0.60/mile (price currently rising). CNG cost $0.465/therm total fuel cost of ~$0.40/mile (price stable ~ last 48 months) Since 2002, average diesel fuel price for Metro is $2.80/gallon, which equates to $0.85 per mile in our service Since 2002, average CNG fuel price for Metro is $0.51/therm, which, including compression, equates to $0.38/mile in our service.
Comparison of CNG and Diesel Fuel Prices 2002-2016 (cost/mile) Average Fuel Cost Per Mile 1.60 Diesel Fuel Cost/Mile CNG Fuel Cost/Mile 1.40 1.20 1.00 Dollars 0.80 0.60 0.40 0.20 0.00 1/7/2002 4/7/2002 7/7/2002 10/7/2002 1/7/2003 4/7/2003 7/7/2003 10/7/2003 1/7/2004 4/7/2004 7/7/2004 10/7/2004 1/7/2005 4/7/2005 7/7/2005 10/7/2005 1/7/2006 4/7/2006 7/7/2006 10/7/2006 1/7/2007 4/7/2007 7/7/2007 10/7/2007 1/7/2008 4/7/2008 7/7/2008 10/7/2008 1/7/2009 4/7/2009 7/7/2009 10/7/2009 1/7/2010 4/7/2010 7/7/2010 10/7/2010 1/7/2011 4/7/2011 7/7/2011 10/7/2011 1/7/2012 4/7/2012 7/7/2012 10/7/2012 1/7/2013 4/7/2013 7/7/2013 10/7/2013 1/7/2014 4/7/2014 7/7/2014 10/7/2014 1/7/2015 4/7/2015 7/7/2015 10/7/2015 1/7/2016
Next Generation CNG Can Near Zero CNG engines reduce fleet emissions? Low NOx Engines with Renewable Natural Gas New Low NOx engine certified at 0.02g/bhp 90% NOx and PM reduction possible. 80% reduction in CO and GHG with RCNG 0.02g/bhp NOx; PM <0.01g/bhp Nearly equivalent to battery electric ZE in Los Angeles Post 2020 We expect to see a new generation of smaller displacement CNG engines optimized for HD Metro expects CNG to be a core part of our operation for the foreseeable future and a transitional step to economical, proven ZE technologies
9 Emission Reductions Since 1980 s One 1980 RTS-II 1000+ Low NOx CNG Engines = 1985 1990 1991 2000 2010 2016 NOx (g/hp-hr) 10.8 6 5 4 0.2 0.02 0.01 PM (g/hphr) 0.59 0.59 0.25 0.05 0.01 0.01 54 1080 540
Electric Bus Program 5 BYD Buses Delivered in 2015 36,000 miles in service Overall performance was poor, esp. reliability, range, gradeability Poor operator and mechanic acceptance In process of negotiating a Buy-Back with BYD Potential trade in current buses for 5 BYD Articulated buses for Metro Orange Line 5 New Flyer All-electric Artics Opportunity Charging at North Hollywood and Chatsworth 10 minutes charging/hour of operation Continuous operation with no mid-day charging Expect deliver in Fall 2017 Assessment of other potential electric battery bus lines is underway
Other New Bus Technologies Looking over the horizon Zero Emission Vehicles will play an increasing role Natural Gas and RCNG will also continue to play a big role Better communications and real time vehicle information ADA Enhancements Accident Avoidance Systems Semi-Autonomous Vehicle Operation Better vehicle management and tracking
John Drayton Los Angeles Metro One Santa Fe Ave MS 63-1-1, Suite 100 Los Angeles, CA 90013 213-617-6285 Draytonj@metro.net