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101-EV_Charging_Station_Staff_Report.pdf OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER CITY HALL 10 10300 TORRE AVENUE • CUPERTINO, CA 95014-3255 TELEPHONE: (408) 777-3212 www.cupertino.org CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT Meeting: April 5, 2011 SUBJECT AND ISSUE Consider accepting a Department of Energy grant for a Coulomb Technologies, Inc. electric vehicle charging station, and authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute the necessary agreements with Coulomb Technologies, Inc., and REJ Electric Company for installation of a charging station at City Hall in substantially the same form as attached BACKGROUND In seeking strategies to reduce emissions and enhance future savings, staff identified the reinstallation of a plug-in electric vehicle charging station as critical infrastructure to enable the city to once again acquire and use electric vehicles as part of its fleet. The city’s proposed partner, Coulomb Technologies, deploys charging stations in municipalities, utilities, office buildings and parking garages. The company is creating a network of electric vehicle charging stations, accessible to all plug-in drivers through a single use or monthly subscription model. Supported by Department of Energy funding to deploy and collect data among 4600 stations in nine metro areas, Coulomb has offered to make the infrastructure available in Cupertino for resident and business vehicles, as well as the city fleet, at no cost to the City. These stations are currently located in 13 other Bay Area jurisdictions including the Cities of San Jose, South San Francisco, San Francisco, Los Altos Hills and Counties of Alameda and Sonoma, though numerous stations have been installed by other vendors in neighboring jurisdictions including Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Santa Clara and Campbell1 TECHNOLOGY SUMMARY The technology proposed for the City of Cupertino is a 7.2kW output Level II 208/240V @ 30A) dual output station (CT2100 – see Attachment A) charging via a standard SAE J1772™ connector and fixed 18-foot cable designed for public outdoor applications. Level II charging is often described as the “primary” and “standard” method for electric vehicle supply equipment, in that it allows for a faster battery charge of 4 to 6 hours (depending on the EV, battery type and capacity) due to a higher voltage (over Level I 120V AC). 2 The charging station requires 220V 40A and 110V 20A on separate circuits and will consist of installing new, dedicated branch circuits from the central meter distribution panel to 1 Electric vehicle charging station locations information obtained on March 25, 2010 through www.evchargermaps.com 2Additional information on charging levels are described in these Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Deployment Guidelines: http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/OIPP/docs/EVDeployGuidelines3-1.pdf?ga=t April 5, 2011 Page 2 the charging station. Proximity to the electrical service is an important factor in locating this parking area, as the length of the circuit run and the number of stalls will have a significant impact on the installation cost for the City. Additional charging station features are included in Attachment A & B and include: 1. Smart Card Reader: The station’s integrated standards-based RFID reader accepts Coulomb’s “ChargePass cards” (integrated circuit card) or other contactless credit cards, with capacity to provide indentification, authentication, data storage and application processing. The reader can also provide optional driver billing and custom access control, preventing electricity theft and enhancing safet y. 2. Software Features: Software features are outlined in Attachment B including network operation service, driver telephone support, station manager software application, flex billing manager software application and flex billing service. 3. Station Manager: The Station Manager provides access to usage, energy consumed, station availability and\ greenhouse gas (GHG) trends for each charging station. Data can be exported and combined with data from other systems to track costs, calculate savings and monitor efficiencies of the electric vehicle charging system. FISCAL IMPACT The smart charging infrastructure for plug-in electric vehicle, valued at $6,555 will be donated by Coulomb Technologies, through its Department of Energy (DOE) ARRA Grant (Attachment C and D). The installation cost to the city will be covered by a California Energy Commission Grant for $1,750, which will include wiring installation ($450), concrete base ($300) and final assembly ($1,000) and $600 for a parking bollard to protect the equipment, for a total project grant of $2,350 (see Attachment E). Ongoing subscription costs are established through the Agreement with Coulomb Technologies and are paid buy the user. The City will receive a free subscription to the network through December 31, 2013, when Coulomb’s Department of Energy grant term expires, allowing free charging for City vehicles. (Attachment F). Coulomb’s network billing allows agencies to configure each station’s pay-per- use features to establish parking service rates (termed session fee pricing, per Attachment F) that vary by day, time of day and individual customer. This allows billing to reflect PG&E rate schedules, including Time of Use rates. All fees are collected automatically and transferred directly into the City’s account. All of these considerations will be subject to negotiations between Coulomb Technologies and the City. At the close of the free subscription term of December, 31, 2013, session pricing fees will follow the formula outlined below: Session Fee Session Authorization Fee Session Processing Fee PG&E A-10 Electric Rate Schedule Total Meter Cost + $0.53 + (A-10 Total Meter Cost x 7.5%2) Currently: $0.16013/kwh4 Currently: (($0.16013kwh) x 7.5%2) 3 Based on the following Subscriber Session Transaction Fee Schedule dated July 7, 2010 (Attachment F). 4 Based on PG&E Commercial Service Electrical Rates (A-10 Schedule) accessed March 25, 2011 through: http://www.pge.com/tariffs/CommlOnlyA-10Current.xls April 5, 2011 Page 3 SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS 1. Limiting Parking Disruption: As a means to minimize parking disruptions in the Civic Center Parking Lot, staff will implement the following actions: 5 minute Loading & Charging Zone – To accommodate the need for additional loading spaces for Public Works and other facility guests, staff proposes to designate the space for both Loading and EV Charging. This is supported by the Public Works team including the City’s Traffic Engineer as a way to accommodate an existing demand, while adding the new EV charging service. Electric vehicle – as part of the vehicle replacement schedule, described in further detail in item 9 below, staff propose to replace a conventional pool vehicle with an electric vehicle, which will in turn charge in the designated Loading & Charging space, as described above. This will free an additional parking space during the time while the vehicle is charging and also when it is being utilized by staff. Pool vehicle – staff are evaluating the opportunity toshift one pool vehicle that has minimal usage, likely the pool van, currently parked in the Civic Center Parking Lot to the Corporation Yard. This will create an additional space not currently available to the general public. 2. Code Requirements: As with any electrical installation, EV charging infrastructure is governed by various federal, state, and local building codes and requirements. In PG&E’s service territory, the National Electrical Code (NEC), the California Electrical Code (CEC), and the California Building Code (CBC) are standards for local jurisdictions to follow to ensure the safe operation of equipment. Also, in an effort to create an opportunity for residents to install electric vehicle charging systems, the City, through its involvement in the Bay Area Climate Collaborative, is evaluating the guidelines developed by the Tri-chapter Uniform Code Committee to enhance regional consistence in application and enforcement of the Building Code, as it relates to electric vehicle charging infrastructure 3. Permitting: Staff confirmed that the installation of electric vehicle charging stations will require an electrical permit, issued through the building department. Also depending on the scenario, Public Works may require an encroachment permit to allow construction in the public right-of-way. As part of this project, staff reviewed electrical permit fees of adjacent jurisdictions and found the City’s commercial electrical permit to be significantly higher than other City’s commercial electrical permit fees. As such, Council and the finance team, as part of the FY2011/2012 Budget, should consider establishing a special commercial electric vehicle charging station permit fee that both incentivizes this installation and avoids issues similar to that encountered with commercial solar photovoltaic permit fees. It should also be noted that as a means to create a regionally consistent permitting process for charging stations, staff are participating in a Bay Area Climate Collaborative-convened working group to evaluate EV fleet opportunities and streamline EV infrastructure permitting for public, residential and commercial installations. 4. Siting: To minimize installation costs, while minimizing disruptions among Library patrons, staff propose the electric vehicle charging station be installed in the City Hall Parking Lot where wiring and conduits exist from the previous RAV-4 charging station, as highlighted in the image below. This recommendation was confirmed and approved by both the City’s Transportation Engineer and proposed installer, REJ Electric. Alternative locations at City April 5, 2011 Page 4 Hall would result in a minimum increase of $60/linear foot for prevailing wage-based labor and materials, though not including additional costs for renting and operating boring equipment to access the site (estimated to exceed $5,000). In addition, siting requirements for publicly available charging expand beyond those for public fleets, in order to address questions of ownership, vandalism, payment for use, maintenance, and data collection. Though most of these considerations will be addressed in the City’s Agreement with Coulomb Technologies (Attachment F), staff are reviewing mounting options (bollard, pole, wall) to ensure the charging stations accommodate (1) public safety (2) ease of access and (3) EV owner access to alternative activities during charge time. 5. Parking and Signage: Despite the fact that the City had previously designated spaces for electric vehicle charging at City Hall and the Service Center, Cupertino’s Municipal Code does not include specific language related to parking or signage for electric vehicle charging. Opportunities to incorporate this language include Chapter 11.24: Stopping, Standing and Parking – Public Streets and Chapter 11.31: Regulation of Parking on Property Owned by the City, which will be reviewed staff in consult with the City’s Traffic Engineer. This team will also evaluate signage to serve two unique purposes: (1) to keep non-EV vehicles from parking in charging station spots and (2) to help EV drivers locate charging stations, as depicted on the right. 6. Utility: The City, supported by Coulomb, will work with PG&E to determine requirements for a special or second meter to accommodate the project. Though beneficial to electric vehicle charging pricing, the transition to a demand-based Time of Use (TOU)schedule will not considered at this time, as it was under review as part of a proposed solar power purchase agreement project which will not be advanced. April 5, 2011 Page 5 7. Demand for Charging Infrastructure: As cited in a 2009 University of California, Berkeley Technical Brief conducted by the Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology, improvements in both lithium-ion battery technology and hybrid automobiles over the past twenty years have made possible the design of superior performance electric vehicles to their gasoline vehicle counterparts. Spurred by these breakthroughs, vehicle manufacturers have indicated their intention to begin mass producing electric vehicles within the next .five years to dramatically increase the number of electric vehicles on U.S. roads, which are currently in the thousands Specific projections referenced in this brief note that “baseline forecast electric cars account for 64% of U.S. light-vehicle sales by 2030 and comprise 24% of the U.S. light-vehicle fleet.” These rates of adoption will be driven by the low purchase price and operating costs of electric cars with separate battery ownership or battery leasing. The estimates include the cost of installing charging and battery switching infrastructure to extend the range of electric vehicles.5 However, due to policies enacted (i.e. ease of permitting requirements for EV charging equipment, retail sales and use tax exemptions for EV batteries and infrastructure) and infrastructure installed to encourage accelerated deployment of transportation alternatives, adoption of electric vehicles is anticipate to first occur among West Coast states. For example, By 2020, 700,000 of the 2.7 million electric cars sold in the United States, comprising 17% of 2020 new light-vehicle sales, are forecast to be sold in the four West Coast States. EVs are approximately three times more energy-efficient than gasoline vehicles6. As a vehicle fuel, electricity offers the additional advantage of price stability. EVs can operate for as little as 2 cents per mile when charged overnight using off-peak power, when compared to a gasoline vehicles which cost of 20 cents per mile (rated at 20mpg, gasoline cost $4/gallon). By charging batteries during off-peak hours, EV owners can minimize their energy bills and also make more efficient use of utility power plants, which in turn can reduce the average cost of electricity for all customers. 8. Electric Fleet Vehicles: Per the City’s approved Environmentally Preferable Procurement Policy Section 3.7.8 “when replacing vehicles as part of the vehicle replacement schedule, the City will identify and consider less-polluting alternatives such as compressed natural gas, bio-based fuels, hybrids, electric batteries, fuel cells as available.” To achieve this goal, staff will initiate a new standard practice as part of the vehicle replacement schedule to fully evaluate vehicle alternatives, per Section 3.7.8, as a means to further advance the goals outlined in Section 3.2.4 “prior to purchasing products or services, the City will consider the short and long-term costs in comparing alternatives.” This new practice is to include evaluation of total costs expected during the period of ownership including, but not limited to, acquisition, extended warranties, operations, supplies, maintenance, disposal costs and expected lifetime compared to other alternatives.” Here staff will take into consideration federal and state tax rebates and grants available to offset the cost to procure alternative fuel vehicles (vs. conventional models). 5 Information obtained on the University of California website “Electric Vehicles in the United States: A New Model with Forecasts to 2030” on March 4, 2011 at http://cet.berkeley.edu/dl/CET_Technical%20Brief_EconomicModel2030_f.pdf. 6 Information obtained on Pacific Gas & Electric’s website “Electric Vehicle Charging Rate and Economics” on March 4, 2011 at: http://www.pge.com/about/environment/pge/electricvehicles/fuelrates/index.shtml . April 5, 2011 Page 6 SUSTAINBILITY IMPACT As referenced above, a transition to electric vehicles will offer economic and environmental benefits, costing about 2 cents per mile to operate, compared to 20 cents per mile for a conventional car, based on gas at $4 per gallon (consistent with fuel prices on March 5, 2011), all the while emitting no tailpipe pollutants and requiring no fluids to lubricate moving parts (i.e. engine oil, anti-freeze, transmission fluid). Most EVs charge up at night when system wide demand for electricity is low, tapping into existing generating capacity that is not fully used rather than increasing demand for new capacity. For example, the battery of a Nissan leaf, with a 100-mile range, can be charged to 80 percent capacity in 30 minutes with a quick charger or fully charged from a 220-volt home outlet in eight hours. If this charging is performed overnight the vehicle owner in PG&E territory could save upwards of $0.23/kwh if charging in off peak vs. peak hours7. The Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory estimates that hybrids reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 22% and plug-in hybrids reduce emissions by 36%. Night time charging may further reduce emissions by 46 – 61%. Electric Power Research Institute and a Natural Resource Defense Council study noted that plug-in electric vehicle (PHEVs) will actually get cleaner as they get older, because the (domestic) power grid that supports these vehicles is, and will continue to, getting cleaner. Though plug-in electric vehicles (PHEVs) are increasing penetration among the 247 million registered conventional passenger vehicles in the United States, most PHEV owners do not have a way to charge their vehicle once they leave their home. Addressing this gap in alternative transportation infrastructure will, in coordination with Coulomb Technologies, enable existing PHEV owners to access the resources required for mobility and eliminate the barriers to market entry for new and emerging electric vehicle technology companies. . Furthermore, incentivizing the development of this marketplace will provide the city means to achieve its Bay Area Climate Compact Goals to: Incentivize and encourage transportation mode-shifts, such as networked work stations, bicycling and public transit, to reduce 2008 baseline gasoline consumption 3% by the end of 2013, and 8% by the end of 2018. Increase the number of zero emission and other advance ultra-low emission light duty vehicles to 10% of municipal fleets by the end of 2013, and to 25% by the end of 2018. TIMELINE Coulomb is looking to complete all charging station allocations by the close of the year, with the intent to deploy the installation of all public charging stations by September 2011. RECOMMENDED ACTION Consider accepting a Department of Energy grant for a Coulomb Technologies, Inc. electric vehicle charging station, and authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute the necessary agreements with Coulomb Technologies, Inc., and REJ Electric Company for installation of a charging station at City Hall in substantially the same form as attached 7 Information obtained on Pacific Gas & Electric’s website “Electric Vehicle Charging Rate and Economics” on March 24, 2011 at:http://www.pge.com/about/environment/pge/electricvehicles/fuelrates/index.shtml April 5, 2011 Page 7 Prepared by: Erin Cooke, Environmental Affairs Coordinator Reviewed by: Rick Kitson, Director of Public and Environmental Affairs Approved for Submission by: David W. Knapp, City Manager Attachments: Attachment A: ChargePoint Networked Charging Stations CT2100 Family Attachment B: ChargePoint Network Standard Service Attachment C: Coulomb Technologies, ChargePoint America Grant Award Attachment D: Coulomb Technologies, ChargePoint America Installation and Reporting Compliance Guide Attachment E: REJ Electric Company, City Hall Electric Car Charger Proposal Attachment F: Coulomb Technologies, ChargePoint Master Services Subscription Agreement