25. Coulomb TechnologiesCUPERTINO GREEN
Program
Agenda Item No. ~.~
SUBJECT AND ISSUE
OFFICE OF TA]E CITY MANAGER
Environmental Affairs Division
CITY HALL
10300 TORRE A~IENUE • CUPERTINO, CA 95014-3255
TELEPHONE: (4{}8) 777-3223 • FAX: (408) 777-3366
STAFF P:EPORT
Meeting Date: November 30.2009
Authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with Coulomb Technologies to manage a
plug-in electric vehicle charging station in the Ci1:y Hall parking lot. Approve a budget transfer of
$10,000 from the Sterling/Barnhart Park capital project account 420-9126-9300 to City Hall
Facilities Maintenance account 110-8501-9100.
BACKGROUND
Transportation represents the fastest growing source of national greenhouse gas emissions
(GHG), and the largest single source in Califarni~i, accounting for 40% of emissions. In Silicon
Valley and the Bay Area, that number is higher still - 51% of total greenhouse gas emissions.
Within the city's own municipal operations, thirt,~ nine percent of the total
carbon emissions arise from the employee commute and the vehicle fleet. In
seeking strategies to reduce this mobile source of emissions within Cupertino's
jurisdiction and sphere of direct influence, the Ci,.y recently identif ed the
installation of a plug-in electric vehicle charging station as such an opportunity.
The city's proposed partner, Coulomb Technologies, deploys charging stations
(see right) in municipalities, utilities, green office; buildings and parking garages
to allow consumers the ability to charge their electric vehicles wherever they
live, work and shop. The network of electric vehicle charging stations, called
the ChargePoint® Network, is accessible to gill plug-in drivers worldwide
through a single use or monthly subscription m~~del. Coulomb has offered to
make this technology available in Cupertino far .resident and business vehicles,
as well as the city fleet
FISCAL IMPACT
The smart charging infrastructure for plug-in electric vehicles, called a
ChargePoint Networked Charging Station, will bE; donated by Coulomb
Technologies. Public works estimates the cost to install this infrastructure will
be approximately $10,000. To cover the cost of a;~sociated infrastructure
installation, $10,000 will be transferred out of bu~3get savings in the
SterlingBarnhart Park project. Additional costs, including the reimbursement
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November 30, 2009
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of utility charges, will be subject to negotiations between Coulomb Technologies and the City.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
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 then 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 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 enussion 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.
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with Coulomb Technologies to manage a
plug-in electric vehicle charging station in the City Hal] parking lot. Approve a budget transfer of
$10,000 from the Sterling/Barnhart Park capital project account 420-912b-9300 to City Hall
Facilities Maintenance account 110-8501-9100.
Approved far submission:
``~., .~ .c...l~c.,c [,c C.~s
~ avid W. Knapp
City Manager
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Public and Environmental Affairs Director