Culver City adopted CNG technology in 1996 in accordance with early South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) air quality mandates. Seeing it as the most viable and cost effective way to lower petroleum-based engine emissions, Culver City has expanded its CNG fleet from the initial purchase of 20 transit buses in 1998 to a current total of over 100 CNG light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, with a 52-bus transit fleet which operates on 100% CNG. Culver City continues its mission to operate a clean, green fleet of alternative fuel CNG vehicles, and providing enhanced bus services to the area.
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At the time of application in March 2008, development of the technical and mechanical specifications for these vehicles was already complete. The purchase was part of a standing order identified through a previous formal Request for 100 buses, authorized by the City Council on April 7, 2008. Preproduction meetings were held with the manufacturer, New Flyer, and equipment development was ongoing during the production phase.
Upon delivery, each vehicle underwent further inspections by our equipment maintenance technicians, and we resolved any issues with the manufacturer. All buses were put into service on January 4, 2010 to serve the newly initiated Culver City Rapid Line 6 service. All vehicles have worked well in their specific capacities for heavy-duty transit bus equipment for the Citys Transportation Department, and we have received positive comments from the operators of these vehicles.
The City of Culver City submitted a proposal to purchase six (6) Heavy-duty CNG Transit Buses using Clean Transportation Funding from the MSRC, Local Government Match Program in March 2008. This purchase allows Culver CityBus to provide rapid service on the most heavily traveled thoroughfare in the Westside of Los Angeles, Bus Line 6, which stretches close to 15 miles along Sepulveda Boulevard from the Green Line Station in south Los Angeles, north to UCLA. The City requested grant funding of $25,000 per vehicle ($150,000 total) toward the purchase of this heavy-duty alternative fuel equipment, and to adhere to fleet rules for transit bus operations. The City of Culver City planned to contribute a local match value of $610,800, and the balance of the purchase was allocated from Federal Transit Administration funds.
Utilizing the following California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved calculation methodology, emission reductions for each heavy-duty CNG powered bus is as follows:
Annual bus miles (projected): 35,000
Assumed Vehicle Life: 12 years
2003 C8.3+ Series CNG Engine NOx: 1.44 g/bhp-hr
2009 ISL-G Series CNG Engine NOx: 0.20 g/bhp-hr
Annual NOx Reduction: 0.19 m.t.
Lifetime NOx Reduction: 2.28 m.t.
2003 C8.3+ Series CNG Engine PM10: 0.02 g/bhp-hr
2009 ISL-G Series CNG Engine NOx: 0.01 g/bhp-hr
Annual NOx Reduction: 0.0016 m.t.
Lifetime NOx Reduction: 0.019 m.t.
Rapid Line 6 Transit Bus Service
The Line 6 Rapid service provides 2,018 passenger trips per day. This replacement of single-occupancy passenger vehicle travel translates into an estimated savings in fuel use of 70,000 gallons per year, which equates to a total GHG reduction of 655 metric tons per year, and 7,860 metric tons of GHGs over the course of 12 years.
Vendors: Cummins Cal-Pacific, LLC, Montebello, California