COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

 

Board of Supervisors

 

DATE:

August 1, 2007

BOARD MEETING DATE:

August 7, 2007

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Supervisor Jerry Hill

SUBJECT:

Resolution providing support for policies and partnerships that promote the development and mass production of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles; and directing staff to consider the purchase of plug-in hybrids whenever possible, including fleet orders

 

Recommendation

Adopt a resolution that:

    1) Establishes the County as a member of the Plug-In Partners National Campaign

    2) Directs staff to consider future purchases of plug-in hybrid vehicles whenever possible, including fleet orders

    3) Commits the County to supporting local, state, and federal policies that will promote plug-in hybrid and zero-emission vehicles; and

    4) Commits the County to supporting the California Air Resources Board’s Zero Emission Vehicle Program; and

    5) Commits the County to working with the local government, education, business and environmental communities to advocate for the purchase of plug-in hybrid and zero-emission vehicles

 

Vision Alignment

Commitment Three: Ensure Basic Health & Safety for All

Commitment Ten: Leaders Work Together Across Boundaries to Preserve and Enhance the Quality of Life

Goal 23: Leaders throughout the County provide the impetus for broader regional solutions in land use, housing, childcare, education, health and transportation.

 

Background

“Plug-in hybrid engines… and other technologies can help end the United States’ oil dependence in a generation”, begins a Brookings Institution report on America’s oil dependency. “Doing so would provide important national security, environmental, and economic benefits”, it continues.

The California Air Resources Board, in addition to acknowledging the significant up front benefits of plug-in hybrids in terms of reduced CO2 emissions and gasoline consumption, states another significant benefit to be gained by mass producing plug-in hybrids: accelerating technological advancement toward the production and mass commercialization of zero-emission vehicles.

A plug-in hybrid vehicle is a conventional hybrid car combined with a more powerful battery that allows for 20-60 miles of gas-free, electric driving. Its battery can be charged by plugging into any standard electric outlet. Once the battery’s charge runs out, the vehicle operates as a conventional gas/electric hybrid.

Plug-in hybrid vehicles, which are forecast to achieve a fuel efficiency of 100 miles per gallon, are more fuel efficient than conventional hybrids, which according to the Federal Bureau of Transportation average 48 to 64 miles per gallon. But important breakthroughs in battery technology need to be achieved before they can be mass produced. There are three ways in which policy makers can hasten such a technological advancement: directly subsidizing its development; placing a mandate upon auto manufacturers to produce a certain percentage of their fleet as plug-ins, leaving it up to them to make the necessary advancements in technology; and yet another is by creating a market for their consumption, thereby providing an incentive for manufacturers to make the vehicles commercially available.

This proposed resolution is a step toward creating a market for plug-in hybrids by joining local governments throughout the country as members of the Plug-In Partners national campaign. It is also an opportunity to work in conjunction with the California Air Resources Board’s zero-emission vehicle program, a regulatory program designed to move California’s passenger car fleet to vehicles with no direct emissions.

 

Discussion

Plug-In Partners is a non-profit organization working to bring mass produced plug-in hybrids to the US auto market. One aspect of their strategy is to form partnerships with local governments. By passing this proposed resolution, San Mateo County will join local governments around the Bay Area and the country as part of the Plug-In Partners national campaign.

Joining the national campaign commits the County to the following actions:

    1) direct staff to consider future purchases of plug-in hybrid vehicles, including fleet orders

    2) make a commitment to support local, state and federal policies that will promote plug-in hybrid vehicles; and

    3) work with the local government, education, business and environmental communities to advocate for the purchase of plug-in hybrid vehicles

Each of these actions is designed to stimulate demand for plug-in hybrid vehicles, thereby creating a market for auto manufacturers to fill.

This resolution also affords the County the opportunity to supplement the ARB’s efforts to foster the commercialization of zero-emission vehicles. The ARB’s zero-emission vehicle program requires auto manufacturers serving the state to phase in the production of zero-emission vehicles. The regulation’s goal is to achieve mass commercialization of zero-emission, hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles by the year 2025.

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, although not fully zero-emission, play a role in fostering the development of true zero-emission vehicles. According to the ARB, “[Plug-in hybrids] have the potential to provide significant direct benefits and to foster future mass market [zero-emission vehicles] by stimulating battery development and conditioning mass market customers to accept plugging in”.

In conjunction with the ARB’s zero emission vehicle program, this resolution should hasten the production of plug-in hybrids and, eventually, zero emission vehicles.

 

Fiscal Impact

No immediate fiscal impact at this time. Future costs will be incurred as the County replaces its fleet with plug-in hybrids as directed by the resolution, once plug-ins become commercially available. The exact net county cost associated with vehicle replacement is conditional upon the difference between the cost of a plug-in hybrid and the least expensive, viable alternative—likely a non-plug-in hybrid. Differences in fuel and energy consumption may afford the County cost-saving opportunities when total operating costs are amortized over a vehicle’s useful life.