HomeMy WebLinkAboutEGD-15-04
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REPORT
ENGINEERING SERVICES
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Meeting:
GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
Date: Monday, March 29, 2004
Report #: EGD-15-04
File#:
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By-law #:
Subject:
GLOBAL TECH HYDROGEN FUEL INJECTION SYSTEMS (HFI) - THE
POTENTIAL FOR AN INNOVATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL PILOT PROJECT
RECOMMENDATIONS:
It is respectfully recommended:
1. THAT Report EGD-15-04 be received;
2. THAT the Municipality of Clarington partner with GlobalTech to install and test their
hydrogen fuel injection system (HFI) on our two municipally owned Clarington Transit
buses as part of a pilot project; and
3. THAT the cost of this pilot project, estimated at approximately $30,000.00, be funded
from the Transit Reserve Fund; and
4. THAT Staff be directed to review the effectiveness of the hydrogen fuel injection system
and report back to Council on an annual basis.
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Submitted by: Anthony Cannella Reviewed by: Franklin Wu
Director of Engineering Services Chief Administrative Officer
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March 22, 2004
CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON
40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOW MANVillE, ONTARIO l1 C 3A6 T 905-623-3379 F 905-623-9282
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REPORT NO.: EGD-15-o4
PAGE 2
1.0 BACKGROUND
In 2004 GlobalTech, a Bowmanville based associate company of the Canadian
Hydrogen Energy Company Ltd., began marketing its GlobalTech HFI hydrogen injection
system for commercial use. This system, using patented technologies, was designed to
enhance the common internal combustion engine to meet increasingly stringent industry
emissions standards and to allow organizations to compete in a highly cost-sensitive
business environment. GlobalTech's hydrogen injection system technology offers the
potential to substantially save fuel and reduce emissions by providing a cleaner, more
efficient fuel bum, increased power and extended engine life.
GlobalTech representatives have advised us that its hydrogen injection system
technology enhances combustion by injecting hydrogen into the engine. Test results
indicate that this improved efficiency reduces emissions by at least 50%, reduces fuel
consumption by at least 10%, and the superior combustion increases the engine's power
while reducing wear.
2.0 PARTNERSHIP - THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS
The most efficient use of GlobalTech's HFI technology is achieved when the units are
installed on vehicles which log long distances on a regular basis. Clarington Transit
vehicles fit this criterion and present an excellent opportunity to test potential economic
and environmental benefits.
The Municipality of Clarington operates a wide range of municipal vehicles and has an
interest in both the cost effectiveness of our operations as well as the impact these
operations have on our environment. To explore potential benefits, the Municipality met
with representatives from GlobalTech to pursue and investigate the opportunity to reduce
municipal fleet fuel emissions by 50% and fuel costs by 10%.
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REPORT NO.: EGD-1S-04
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3.0 INNOVATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY - A PILOT PROJECT
In the year 2000 the Federal Government, through the Federation of Canadian
Municipalities, implemented the Green Municipal Investment Fund to fund "innovative
environmental projects that improve the energy and/or process efficiency in energy and
energy services, water, solid waste management, sustainable transportation services
and technologies, and integrated community projects", On December 21, 2003 the
Ontario Ministry of the Environment issued a news release advising that in April 2004
Ontario will have the toughest emission limits in North America for large diesel trucks
and buses. Aimed at long term strategies for healthier communities both initiatives
emphasize the importance of looking at what we do today in terms of how it will affect
our environment for the future.
Municipal government is in a unique position to lead the way in implementing responsible
business practices that demand sensitivity to the impact that they have on the
environment. Municipal transit buses log long distances on a daily basis and provide the
ideal opportunity to look at whether local government might be in a position to set the
type of example that the private sector may follow. We, like the private sector, have an
interest in the long-term cost effectiveness of our operations and in the cost benefits that
HFI technology may offer. We are however; equally interested in establishing policies
that offer long term environmental benefits to the residents of the community in which we
live.
4.0 A PILOT PROJECT - EVALUATING THE TECHNOLOGY
Ideally HFI technology is most suitable for vehicles that log long distances on a regular
basis. As stated earlier, Clarington Transit has two municipally owned buses which meet
this criterion. Installing GlobalTech's hydrogen injection systems on both of these buses,
as a pilot project, will allow us to effectively evaluate the merits of this technology from a
municipal perspective. The total cost of installation for both buses would be
approximately $30,000.00, a cost that can be funded through the Transit Reserve Fund.
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Any costs we incur will be offset by the savings we achieve as a result of enhanced fuel
consumption and decreased engine wear and tear.
In addition to these savings the Municipality of Clarington may be in a position to apply to
the Federation of Canadian Municipalities for a grant through the Green Municipal Funds
program. If the Federation of Canadian Municipalities approves our grant application we
may be in a position to qualify for an additional 50% savings over and above that which
we achieve through decreased fuel consumption and engine wear and tear. This pilot
project should provide the necessary data to support such an application to the
Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
2.0 INPUT FROM OTHER SOURCES
Oshawa Transit has provided comments and input into the information contained within
this report.
3.0 CONCLUSION
We believe that a pilot project of hydrogen fuel injection technology has the potential to
allow us the opportunity to take advantage of cutting edge local technology in further
developing, cost-effective, environmentally sensitive municipal business practices.
Furthermore, partnership with a local company such as GlobalTech is a demonstration of
the Municipality's commitment in promoting local industry.
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