Fuel cell powertrains applications

Vans or light duty transport vehicle are like busses an optimal application for fuel cell powertrain. The utilization profile of such vehicles for example for city delivery leads to an advantage in the infrastructure. The vehicles can be refueled in a central depot, so that only one local H2 station is required and not a wide spread infrastructure. 

The use of passenger car fuel cell system or the common uses of some sub-modules allow a significant cost reduction of the fuel cell powertrain for bus application. In several demonstration projects and in the small serial production busses, Daimler and Evobus have presented this application. 

From 1999 on all fuel cell bus activities were concentrated in the program ZeBus in the company of the Xcellsis GmbH (Fig. 4.47). One big step towards mamrity was achieved The technology was the basis for the until now biggest demonstration program (Cute) of Daimler in Europe. The powertrain was designed especially for a bus application. 

In addition to the fuel-ceU hybrid systems for powertrains and hght traction applications described above, there are several other appHcations that use fuel-cell hybrid systems, some of which are described briefly below. These examples are only niche market appHcations. At present, the main application area for fuel-cell hybrid systems is mobile applications, as has been described. 

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