290 likes | 378 Views
Promoting Clean Vehicles in a Sustainable South Bay. The Local Use Vehicle Demonstration Program June 2011. Problem. Criteria Pollutants Green House Gas emissions Rising oil prices Existing SB 375 strategies do not suit South Bay conditions because it is mature, dense & transit poor
E N D
Promoting Clean Vehicles in a Sustainable South Bay The Local Use Vehicle Demonstration Program June 2011
Problem Criteria Pollutants Green House Gas emissions Rising oil prices Existing SB 375 strategies do not suit South Bay conditions because it is mature, dense & transit poor Lacking consumer awareness of Clean Vehicle options
Solution: Sustainable South Bay Sustainable South Bay Strategy • An alternative SB 375 mobility and land use strategy • Formally adopted by the SBCCOG Board of Directors • Addresses: • land use options that promote local trips • transportation options that fit the demand for local trips • Based on five years of research • Aside from the commute trip – virtually all trips are under 3 miles • These conditions are ideal for locally oriented zero-emission vehicles
SSBS Mobility Component:The LUV Program • The LUV Demonstration Program is testing electric Local Use Vehicles (LUVs) • 7 small, short range & low speed cars for taking ‘local’ trips • Driven by local residents for 3-6 months at a time • Demonstrating use on local streets • Previously only in closed campuses • Designed to: • Help overcome consumer resistance to unfamiliar technologies • Inform public policy makers about the practical barriers to wide spread adoption of Local Use Vehicles
Milestones • Contract with AQMD approved July 2009 • Implementation planning July 2009 - 2010 • LUV vehicles placed in May 2010 • Research includes 18 month active vehicle use • Twelve months have been completed • Analysis do date suggests: • Successful consumer acceptance • Higher than expected emission reductions
Proving Consumer Acceptance • Early Adopters • Focus Groups • Vehicle Waiting List • Surveys • Social Media
Consumer Acceptance • Enthusiastic participants • Their original gas guzzlers sit unused • Sometimes so long they have to get a jump start when they try to use their old cars • Several of our drivers are interested in purchasing a LUV to replace one of their vehicles • Travel time is not an issue for local trips
Data • Collection Methods • GPS vehicle tracking • Drivers Logs • Continual Data Enhancements • Handheld GPS data loggers • Energy Use Monitors
Use Profiles • GPS data is translated into detailed vehicle use profiles. • Use profiles include • Monthly VMT • Distances traveled per trip • Travel time • Destinations frequented by drivers • Data allows GHG and Criteria Pollutant reduction calculations
Infrastructure The GPS data provide detailed feedback on the viability of existing street networks for Local Use Vehicles Through GPS route mapping the SBCCOG is able to identify preferred low speed vehicle routes and make recommendations for infrastructure improvements where there are gaps in low speed accessibility
Implications Documents local travel patterns Profiles high performing multi-functional neighborhood centers Clustering destinations supports redevelopment and VMT reduction strategies
Benefits: Future Emission Reductions • Demonstrates potential emissions reductions from LUVs • Such as replacing 60% of the 243,800 second and third vehicles per household in the South Bay with LUVs
Impact • GHG emissions per household ranged from • 13% low use • 50% high use • VMT reductions per household ranged from • 15% low use • 60% high use
Benefits: Multiple Uses of Data • This pilot is a proof of concept that is replicable throughout LA County’s mature suburban regions for areas looking for low cost • VMT reduction strategies • Economic revitalization strategies • Congestion relief strategies • Unintended consequence of our data collection • Valuable data for utility companies and cities looking for guidance regarding optimized placement of electric vehicle charging stations • Based on our detailed suburban electric vehicle travel pattern studies • Southern California Edison has already approached the SBCCOG to collaborate on charging station placement plans for the LA area
Benefit: Infrastructure Guidance • Provides critical information for local infrastructure for clean vehicles including • Bicycles • Neighborhood Electric Vehicles • Emerging clean vehicle technologies
Environmental Benefits • LUV analysis has resulted in a proof of concept for the Sustainable South Bay Strategy • Low speed affordable electric vehicles could substantially reduce emissions from personal vehicles at low public cost • In contrast, implementation of existing SB 375 emission reduction methods would provide VMT reductions of less that 8% • The LUV demonstration program has provided data to South Bay cities that will assist them with • Local land use strategies to further reduce VMT by clustering destinations to keep trips short and local
Benefits: Future Programs • With this demonstration of the value of Local Use Vehicles the SBCCOG has set the stage for future programs • Targeting the replacement of 60% of the 243,800 second and third vehicles in the South Bay with alt fuel vehicles • Encouraging households to start transitioning to clean passenger vehicles
Next Step • Promoting conversion to clean vehicles in the South Bay • Exploring virtual auto malls • Testing and documenting consumer acceptance for emerging types of clean vehicles • Adding clean vehicle info to the comprehensive outreach ongoing at the SBESC • Participating in developing plans for the proper placement of infrastructure in the South Bay to support clean fuel vehicles of all types