1 Compressed Natural Gas Specifications for Motor Vehicles August 3, 2005 California Environmental Protection Agency Air Resources Board

2 Agenda IntroductionsIntroductions BackgroundBackground Proposed conceptProposed concept Presentations by others on proposed conceptPresentations by others on proposed concept Research needsResearch needs Presentations by others on research needsPresentations by others on research needs Open discussionOpen discussion

3 Background

4 Compressed Natural Gas Motor Vehicle Fuel Regulation Title 13, CCR, section adopted in 1992Title 13, CCR, section adopted in 1992 Compositional specificationsCompositional specifications Based on technology available at that timeBased on technology available at that time Provides engine manufacturers with a known fuel quality for designing enginesProvides engine manufacturers with a known fuel quality for designing engines Addressed fuel related engine performance problems and excess emissionsAddressed fuel related engine performance problems and excess emissions More stringent than CPUC specifications for NGMore stringent than CPUC specifications for NG Pipeline operators have imposed CNG specifications on the pipelinePipeline operators have imposed CNG specifications on the pipeline

5 Current Motor Vehicle CNG Specifications Methane (min.) 88 mol% Ethane (max.) 6 mol% C3+higher (max.)3 mol% Inert Gases mol% Other specs. to safeguard quality

6 88% of CA Current Supply Meets CNG MV Specifications Compressed Natural Gas

7 California Associated Gas Predominately in the Southern San Joaquin Valley and the South Central CoastPredominately in the Southern San Joaquin Valley and the South Central Coast Exceed ethane, C3+ specificationsExceed ethane, C3+ specifications Higher energy contentHigher energy content

8 Potential for Imported LNG Potential to displace a significant amount of CA natural gas supplyPotential to displace a significant amount of CA natural gas supply Potentially exceeds ethane, and C3+ specificationsPotentially exceeds ethane, and C3+ specifications Does not meet inert specificationsDoes not meet inert specifications Higher energy contentHigher energy content

9 Modifications of CNG MV Specifications CNG specifications could be updatedCNG specifications could be updated –reflect vehicle technology advancements –provide flexibility Need to balance cost with air quality and vehicle performance issuesNeed to balance cost with air quality and vehicle performance issues OptionalOptional Preserve performance and emission benefitsPreserve performance and emission benefits

10 Fuel Quality and Emissions Test programs confirm that an increase in energy content will increase NOx emissionsTest programs confirm that an increase in energy content will increase NOx emissions –Stationary sources –Mobile sources Current information indicates that NOx emission increases may be significantCurrent information indicates that NOx emission increases may be significant Additional tests need to be conducted to fully quantify the performance and emissions impactsAdditional tests need to be conducted to fully quantify the performance and emissions impacts

11 Fuel Effects on Performance and Durability Light duty engines are equipped with advanced feedback control systems and do not experience any significant effectsLight duty engines are equipped with advanced feedback control systems and do not experience any significant effects Heavy duty engines without advanced feedback control systems can experience significant performance and durability effectsHeavy duty engines without advanced feedback control systems can experience significant performance and durability effects Stationary applications can experience modified flame and combustion characteristics that can affect performance and durabilityStationary applications can experience modified flame and combustion characteristics that can affect performance and durability

12 Proposed Concept

13 Proposed Concept Objectives Provide compliance flexibility with CNG fuel regulationProvide compliance flexibility with CNG fuel regulation Ensure protection of existing and new technology natural gas enginesEnsure protection of existing and new technology natural gas engines No significant air quality degradation occursNo significant air quality degradation occurs

14 Proposed Concept Methane NumberMethane Number –80 statewide –73 regional WOBBE IndexWOBBE Index –xxxx statewide –xxxx regional Inerts 4% max.Inerts 4% max. C4+ 1.5% max.C4+ 1.5% max. Other specifications based on CPUC Rule 30 or Rule 21Other specifications based on CPUC Rule 30 or Rule 21

15 Presentations by Others on Proposed Concept

16 Research Needs

17 Presentations by Others on Research Needs

18 Open Discussion