The City of Culver City is committed to reducing air pollution emissions in the region by operating an alternative fuel transit fleet. As early as 1996, the City adopted the use of comopressed natural gas (CNG)technology as a cost effective way to lower petroleum-fueled engine emissions. Culver City has expanded its CNG fleet from its initial purchase of 20 CNG transit buses in 1998 to its current total of 86 light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles.
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A Request for Proposal for the buses was released by the City in June 2003 and a contract with New Flyer was executed in November 2003. Preproduction meetings were held with the manufacturer and on-site manufacturing inspections were held at the manufacturing site in Winnepeg, Canada and Crookston, Minnesota. Upon delivery each bus underwent further inspection by City maintenance technicians and any issues with the manufacturer were resolved. A Request for Proposal was released in September 2006 for the design of the expanded facility. The City entered into construction contract with Clean Energy in November 2006.
Under this contract, the City of Culver City will purchase eight (8) 40 foot CNG transit buses and expand its CNG refueling station. The capacity of the City's current fueling station is not sufficient to handle the City's expanding CNG fleet.
No major problems were encountered with the purchase and placement into service of the transit buses. Due to the complexity of the CNG expansion project, some delays were experienced. Issues included contractual issues, coordination challenges with the utility companies, and modifications during equipment manufacturing.
All eight buses were placed into service in July 2004. The eight 2004 New Flyer C40LF CNG buses replaced eight 1991 FLXIBLE 40102-6L 40-foot buses operating on diesel fuel. The expansion of the CNG refueling station was complete as of December 31, 2007. Elements of the expansion include an additional CNG compressor, two additional storage containment vessels, a new standby/emergency generator, relocation of a fast fill dispenser, upgrades to the electronic system and transformer, and installation of a new 4-inch gas supply line.