Fuel cell vehicle design

In the case of hydrogen, illustrated in Fig. 7-2, the radical innovations include fuel cells, refueling systems, hydrogen detection devices, and so forth. All of these component innovations must be integrated into the fuel cell vehicle design, and a significant underperformance in any one component—onboard storage, for example—could render the entire vehicle system uncompetitive in the marketplace. Much entrepreneurial activity has already occurred here, but its future rate and direction remain unclear. 

Proposed fuel-cell vehicle designs utilize a hydrogen tank, which is quite large, bulky, and potentially dangerous. If an alcohol tank is used with steam reformation, however, it may be feasible to eliminate the associated problems with the pressurized tank system. In a green economy, the ideal fuel source would be a renewable source of fuel such as biomass. 

In this project, ADVISOR was used to simulate different fuel cell vehicle design scenarios and to quantify the impacts of several influential parameters. The effects of designing for a specific drive cycle were analyzed. Likewise, vehicle scenarios for optimal fuel economy were derived for vehicles with a range of fuel cell system performance attributes. These studies have established the groundwork for future studies to be performed based on existing and planned technology deliverables in the DOE Fuel Cells for Transportation Program. 

In addition, hydrogen enables a variety of advanced engine or propulsion technologies including zero-emission fuel cell vehicles, simplified fuel cell vehicle designs without the need for a fuel reformer, and internal combustion engines that have both improved efficiency and very low emissions (Figure 6.13). 

Ogden, J., T. Kreutz and M. Steinbugler, Fuels for Fuel Cell Vehicles Vehicle Design and Infrastructure Issues, Society of Automotive Engineers Technical Paper No. 982500, Presented at the SAE Fall Fuels and Lubricants Meeting and Exposition, San Francisco, CA, October 19-22, 1998. 

A fuel cell vehicle requires only 1/10 the parts needed for internal combustion models. A change to fuel cell power could end overcapacity problems for GM. It would no longer have to consider different state or country environmental regulations. Fuel cells also free designers and allow them to be more creative with styles and body designs. 

Today, the power train costs of fuel-cell vehicles are still far from being competitive. They have the largest influence on the economic efficiency of hydrogen use in the transport sector and the greatest challenge is to drastically reduce fuel-cell costs from currently more than 2000/kW to less than 100/kW for passenger cars. On the other hand, fuel-cell drive systems offer totally new design opportunities for... 

Ogden, J.M., Steinbugler, M.M., and Kreutz, T.G. 1999. A Comparison of Hydrogen, Methanol, and Gasoline as Fuels for Fuel Cell Vehicles Implications for Vehicle Design and Infrastructure Development. Journal of Power Sources, 79 (1999) 143-168. 

Pt is, however, an expensive and limited resource. For a 60 kW fuel cell vehicle, the cost of Pt would be over 2,400 at current cost and loading of Pt. Even worse, replacing combustion engines in all existing vehicles by fuel cell drive systems at no penalty in power would exceed the known reserves of Pt. Catalyst layer design, therefore, strives to reduce the Pt loading markedly at no penalty in the fuel cell voltage. 

Fuel cells have moved remarkably quickly from laboratory to road testing. The City of Los Angeles, California, USA, recently leased the first of five Honda FCX models as part of a demonstration program designed to generate real road data. And, DaimlerChrysler is currently testing 60 Mercedes-Benz "F-Cell" A-Class fuel cell vehicles with demonstration partners under everyday conditions. 

In the transportation area, the Low Carbon Vehicle (LCV) Partnership has been established to promote the shift to low carbon vehicles and fuels in the UK. Hybrid vehicles feature highly in the Partnership s strategy and the linkto fuel cell vehicles is clear. Fuel Cells UK will, as a matter of priority, establish a dialogue with the LCV Partnership and, through this, the UK-based automotive sector (including bus, van and carmakers, key component suppliers and designers/developers), the fuel cell sector, and international OEMs to determine initiatives for deploying fuel cell vehicles in the UK. 

Ranky, P. G. (2003-2005), An introduction to alternative energy sources Hybrid fuel cell vehicles an interactive multimedia eBook publication with 3D objects, text, and videos in a browser-readable format on CD-ROM/intranet, available http //www. cimwareukandusa.com, CIMware USA, Inc., and CIMware Ltd. United Kingdom, Multimedia design and programming by P. G. Ranky and M. F. Ranky, (2003-2005), Customer needs, wants requirements analysis Automotive exterior rearview mirror, an interactive multimedia eBook publication with 3D objects, text, and videos in a browser-readable format on CD-ROM/intranet, available http //www.cimwareukandusa.com, CIMware USA, Inc., and CIMware Ltd., United Kingdom. 

Kato, Y., et al. (2005), Carbon Dioxide Zero-emission Hydrogen Carrier System for Fuel Cell Vehicle , Chem. Eng. Res. Design, 83 (A7), pp. 900-904. 

For the FCV to be successful in the marketplace, it must satisfy customer desires and regulatory requirements (see Table 3-1). Fuel cell vehicles will easily meet a few of these desires and requirements. They will excel in fuel economy and emissions reduction. On the negative side, for the foreseeable future they will likely be expensive, have less range, and be more difficult to refuel. Their ability to satisfy other demands and requirements is more ambiguous, depending on perceptions, design decisions, and near-term engineering improvements. 

Importantly, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles provide special attractions to automakers. By eliminating most mechanical and hydraulic subsystems, they provide greater design flexibility and the potential for using fewer vehicle platforms and therefore more efficient manufacturing approaches. As a result, the automotive industry, or at least an important slice of it, sees fuel cells as its inevitable and desired future. As noted by Jim Boyd in Chapter 10, automaker support was not evident in other movements to promote alternative fuels. 

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