Today’s Transit for Tomorrow’s World SunLine’s Hydrogen Fuel Cell Program

A Necessary Partnership in the Deployment of

Zero Emission Technology

Lauren SkiverCEO/General Manager

• SunLine Transit Agency– SunLine is the consolidated transportation service agency

for the Coachella Valley, with a 1,120 square mile service area utilizing 71 fixed route buses (5 Hydrogen Fuel Cell), and 33 paratransit vehicles for a total of 104 revenue vehicles

• SunLine Services Group– Regulates taxi service

• 180 taxicabs in the Coachella Valley• 276 taxicab drivers• 3 franchises

• SunFuels−SunFuels (Thousand Palms) provides CNG & Hydrogen Fleet and

Public access 24/7−SunFuels (Indio) provides CNG Fleet and Public access 24/7

Three Distinct Business Units

SunLine Facts

SunLine OperationsOperate fourteen (14) local SunBus fixed routes and Riverside Commuter Link 220

Provides SunDial ADA Paratransit service and Taxi Voucher Program for older adults

Operated 4.2 million revenue miles for 4.9 million passenger rides FY 14/15

SunLine Employees

227 union employees 88 non-union employees315 Total

LEADERS IN ALTERNATIVE FUEL TECHNOLOGY

First Public Transit Agency in the Nation to operate a 100% CNG fleet 1994

2015 2015

40 CNG Buses

66 CNG 5 Hydrogen 33 Para-Transit CNG buses

SunFuels Fueling Station

Leaders In Alternative Fuel TechnologyEarly and Current Hydrogen Projects

Leaders in Hydrogen Electric Fuel Cell Bus Technology for over a decade

10th , 11th and 12th Generation - Nine New Hydrogen Vehicles On Property in

the next 2-3 Years

Hydrogen Program Data

Bus Configuration Year Hours Miles Hydrogen Fuel

Kg

FC2 – New FlyerBallard Fuel Cell, ISE Drive Sys.

2010 6,664 90,302 13,009 Kg

FC3 40’ El Dorado Axess, BAE Drive Sys, Ballard Fuel Cell

2012 6,818 103,700 15,152 Kg

FC4 40’ El Dorado Axess, BAE Drive Sys, Ballard Fuel Cell

2014 3,051 40,615 6,085 Kg

FC5 40’ El Dorado Axess, BAE Drive Sys, Ballard Fuel Cell

2014 2,299 22,065 3,347 Kg

FC6 40’ El Dorado Axess, BAE Drive Sys, Ballard Fuel Cell

2015 786 9,760 1,466 Kg

Maintenance Costs Comparison

Hydrogen Costs

Total Hydrogen dispensed and cost per Kilogram by month

Alternative Fuel Challenges

• Procurement– Fitting Hydrogen procurements into Diesel vehicle procurement documents– Ensuring the technology can meet the required life cycle regulations

• Partnerships– Risk must be acknowledged by all partners– Transit agencies have extreme pressures to deliver reliable service– OEM’s take on considerable financial burdens and risk

• Communication– Managing expectations– Strong leadership comprising of multiple levels of position at the transit agency and

OEM/manufacturer• Commitment

– Building strong commitments between OEM’s, funding agencies and transit operators

– Creating information and support throughout the transit agency and within the community

– Understanding the risk and working to minimize it through education of the contract and responsibilities of all parties

Risk Versus Reward

• What are the benefits?─ Reduction in environmental impacts─ Less dependence on fossil fuels─ Increased vehicle and infrastructure funding

• What are the differences in managing these fleets?

─ Complex configuration and integration compared to diesel and CNG

─ Training needs for technicians and support personnel─ Replacement component costs and availability

Risk Versus Reward Continued

• What questions should you ask your Agency, Board and Community?

─ How committed to an alternative fuel program are your stakeholders?

─ Can we manage rider and service expectations while exploring alternative fuel vehicles?

─ Does the Transit Agency team support the efforts to make an environmentally based vehicle decision?

• What did SunLine experience in these areas?─ Strong Board of Directors support─ Strategic public awareness campaigns─ Operating mission that reinforces our commitment with internal

employees, customers and community leaders

Evolution of Technology Risks

• CNG Risk– Perception of No Risk

• Transit Agency’s have struggled with an exclusive manufacturer and fleet defects

• There are no emerging engine providers entering the market to provide competition and component choice

• Hydrogen Risk– Perception of Unacceptable Risk

• An emerging market with similar technical challenges as CNG– Current increased interest by OEM’s to produce components that

may lead to more configuration choice with Hydrogen than with CNG platforms

• Successful Commercialization Elements from an Operator Transit Prospective:– Builds on operator successes representing the demand

for the technology– Identifies risks from an operator position– Represents the value proposition from a Transit Agency

Perspective– Provides technical assistance to the industry– Establishes visibility of initiatives

Transit Driven Commercialization

Who Takes the Project Lead?• Manufacturer driven solution may create:

– Limited players– Indirect communication of risks– Supply driven proposals– Limited commitment by transit operators

• Non-Profit solution may create:– Indirect communication of risks– Theoretical vs. practical representations of performance– Leveraged cost discussions because of administrative

interests– Limited commitment by transit operators

SunLine’s Vision Statement

• SunLine is committed to working with Transit Operators to:– Enhance the demand for Hydrogen/Zero Emission fuel

technologies– Eliminate or mitigate risks

• Buy America • Reliability of Vehicles and Infrastructure • Availability of Hydrogen/price analysis• Lack of competition • DBE Program requirements • Life Cycle Costs and useful life calculations • FTA Spare Ratio calculations

– Increase competition• Support manufacturer efforts to create competition

SunLine’s Center of Excellence

• Establish a Center of Excellence to house investments in learning─ For every investment in technology, there is investment in

training and learning• Funding partners have already made substantial investments in the

technology

─ Center of Excellence would be a site to preserve and enhance those learning investments• Acquisition and in-service management• Leverages prior investments and prevents duplication in future

technology projects• Is not limited to transit technology and can transcend other “spill

over” applications

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Commitment to zero emission technology must be in place at project initiation

• Reliability, competition, value proposition, and successful partnerships must be communicated

• Risk must be accepted by all partners

• Zero emission technology works

• Don’t wait until the funding opportunities sunset to create a renewable energy mission/focus

Engaging the Community

Thank You