Fuel cell electric vehicle

The integration of a fuel cell system in an electric power train results in a rather complex system constituted by the combination of energy storage systems, energy sources, electric converters and various auxihary devices. 

In principle, a fuel cell power train could operate in so-called full power mode, i.e., all the power required by the electric drive could be supplied by the FCS, 

The simultaneous utilization of FCS and battery within a fuel cell propulsion system can be accomplished by two basic ways (i) the battery pack can be minimized (but not eliminated as in full power) assigning the role of generating most energy required by the load to the FCS (soft hybrid configuration), (ii) the FCS can be sized to provide the base load, i.e. a power value close to the average power of the expectable road mission (hard hybrid configuration), while larger battery pack are necessary to satisfy the dynamic requirements. 

The main benefit of the soft hybrid option is the reduced use of batteries, which could have the minimum capacity necessary to feed the vehicle auxiliaries, giving a limited contribution to peak powers and save energy during the regenerative braking phases. On the other hand, the hard hybrid option offers the possibility to limit the cost of the FCS, which would work mainly in steady-state conditions, then in more reliable way. 

The soft hybrid configuration represents the most flexible solution for the energy management in all the possible driving conditions of an automotive 

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GM created Giner Electrochemical Systems (GES) with Giner, Inc., to perform fuel cell research and development. Giner is the leader in the PEM-based technology used in most automotive applications. GM s FCEV is a fuel cell electric vehicle and PNGV demonstrator that was designed to achieve 108 m.p.g. gasoline equivalent. 

Hyundai introduced its new i-Blue Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle. The i-Blue platform incorporates Hyundai s third-generation fuel cell technology and is powered by a 100-kW electrical engine and fuel cell stack. It is fueled with compressed hydrogen at 700 bar stored in a 115 liter tank. The i-Blue is capable of running more than 600-km per refueling stop and has a maximum speed of 165-km/h. 

Besides fuel-cell (electric) vehicles (FCV), there are other vehicle concepts under development, which are also based on electric drives ranked by increasing battery involvement in the propulsion system, and thus extended battery driving range, these are hybrid-electric vehicles (HEV), plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles (PHEV) - which both incorporate an ICE - and, finally, pure battery-electric vehicles (BEV), without an ICE. While electric mobility in its broadest sense refers to all electric-drive vehicles, that is, vehicles with an electric-drive motor powered by batteries, a fuel cell, or a hybrid drive train, the focus in this chapter is on (primarily) battery-driven vehicles, i.e., BEV and PHEV, simply referred to as electric vehicles in the following. 

Erdmann, G. and Grahl, M. (2000). Competitiveness and economic impacts of fuel cell electric vehicles on the future German market. Proceedings Hyforum 2000, (September 11-15). Munich. 

Increase public awareness and enhance opinion about fuel cell electric vehicles, preparing the market for commercialization.32... 

Figure 4.3. Placement of fuel cells, hydrogen tank and auxiliary equipment in the DaimlerChrysIer prototype car Necar 4. (Based on G. Friedlmeier, J. Friedrich, F. Panik (2001). Test experiences with the DaimlerChrysIer fuel cell electric vehicle NECAR 4. Fuel Cells 1,92-96, Used by permission from Wiley.)...

Finally, Fig. 4.8 shows the simulation results for a hybrid fuel cell-electric vehicle with 20 kW of fuel cells and a 5-kWh, 113 kg Li ion battery. The two power sources are operating in series, and particularly during the high-... 

Takahashi, K. (1998). Development of fuel cell electric vehicles. Paper presented at "Fuel Cell Technology Conference, London, September", IQPC Ltd., London. 

Every major automaker must be willing to subsidize the development and early deployment phase of new technology introduction, but fiscal responsibility requires that there be some promise of a positive return in the future. In the specific examples discussed here, Chrysler lost money on CNG, M85, E85, and BEVs, with no prospect of ever recouping those investments. This is a pattern that no manufacturer can afford to continue indefinitely. The lessons learned from this experience, however, can reap enormous economic benefits as DaimlerChrysler prepares to commercialize clean diesel, hybrid electric, and hydrogen powered fuel cell electric vehicles. 

DC machines are simpler and cheaper, because their speed regulation is based on scalar controls. For that reason they need simple electronic boards to control the DC electric drive operations. Moreover, they have the advantage that they can be fed by the DC supply already on board. On the other hand, the principal disadvantage is represented by the maintenance required, since for instance brushes need to be periodically checked and changed. Another point to take in consideration is that fuel cell electric vehicles equipped with brushed electric machines would require specific safety devices to avoid that sparks of the collector during the commutation might interact with the hydrogen used as fuel on board. 

Maggetto G, Van Mierlo J (2001) Electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles and fuel cell electric vehicles state of the art and perspectives. Ann Chim Shi Mater 26(4) 9-26... 

Supplied tanks for H3umdai Santa Fe fuel cell electric vehicle, the first to fill to 5,000 psi hydrogen... 

IV.C.2 Multi-fuel Processor for Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Applications... 

J2574. SAE Information Report - Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Terminology (published)... 

Figure 1.3 Hydrogen supply options and major uses. PV, photovoltaic (cells) ICEs, internal combustion engines IT, information technology FCVs, fuel cell (electric) vehicles ICEVs, internal-combustion-engined vehicles. (Courtesy of International Energy Agency Clean Coal Centre).

A project has started in 1996 to develop and install a 12 - 15 kW SPFC into a Peugeot minivan equipped with a special tank to store hydrogen at 70 MPa [12]. In the project FEVER (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle for Efficiency and Range), Renault pursues a car design with a 30 kW PEM fuel cell and a 120 1 LH2 tank to allow a 500 km cruising range [59]. In both projects, the goal is to start test operation in 1997. 

The fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) is an electric vehicle just like the battery electric vehicle (BEV), the hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) and the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). HEVs have been sold since 1997 and BEVs were marketed in a period in the 1990s and in the early 2000s, but with little success. Several large car producers have announced that they will reintroduce BEVs and PHEVs in 2009-11. 

Encapsulation of metals within nanotubes may be of interest, especially if the metal is ferromagnetic (e.g. data storage devices and stiffer STM tips). Investigation on nanotubes and related fullerene-like structures for hydrogen storage is a necessary precursor to the development of fuel-cell electric vehicles [49]. 

P. Kdl, K. Rumpf, and A. Jossen, Thermal Impedance Spectroscopy for Li-Ion Batteries with an IR Temperature Sensor System, in The 27th World Battery, Hybrid and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Symposium and Exhibition, 11/2013. 

Assuming that the current vehicle portfolio (population of small, medium-size and large vehicles) remains approximately the same, for reasons derived from the laws of physics, the European upper C02-limit (95 g CO-Jkm by 2020) can only be achieved by having a certain number of Zero-Emission-Vehicles [Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV)] (Fig. 4.4). 

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