Fuel Cells for Automotive Applications

A more detailed description of different types of batteries and other electric energy storage systems for electric vehicles can be found in Sect. 5.3, while a description of the main characteristics and properties of fuel cells for automotive application is given here, starting from some basic concepts of electrochemistry and thermodynamic, and focusing the attention on the operative parameters to be regulated to obtain the best performance in the specific application. 

Corbo et al.. Hydrogen Fuel Cells for Road Vehicles, 

Green Energy and Technology, DOI 10.1007/978-0-85729-136-3 3, Springer-Verlag London Limited 2011 

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Corbo P, Migliardini F, Veneri O (2009) Dynamic behaviour of hydrogen fuel cells for automotive application. Renew Energy 34 1955-1961... 

Hydrogen production, onboard storage and distribution technologies are reviewed in Chap. 2, while basic concepts of electrochemistry are recalled in Chap. 3, with an assessment of the state of development of fuel cells for automotive applications, in terms of performance and durability. 

Important Factors for the Use of Non-Noble Metal Electrocatalysts in PEM Fuel Cells for Automotive Applications... 

ELECTROCATALYST DESIGN IN PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE FUEL CELLS FOR AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATION... 

The interest in fuel cells for automotive applications has resulted in a large number of investigations of reforming of methanol [286] [501] for on-board reforming or for distributed units for hydrogen production. Compact units have been studied [183] using micro-channel or plate reformers [94] [340] [442] or a combination with selective hydrogen membranes [26] [40]. 

The average lifetime of a vehicle is about 10 to 12 years, but the actual operating time is only in the order of 3000 to 5000 hours. Therefore, the fuel cells for automotive applications are expected to have a similar lifetime. Limited laboratory testing to date has confirmed that the PEM fuel cells can meet these expectations, although the effect of real-life conditions (numerous start-ups and shutdowns, impurities in fuel and in air) on the fuel cell and fuel cell system components life has yet to be determined. 

R.H. Thring, Editor, Fuel Cells for Automotive Applications, Professional Engineering Publishing, UK, 2004. 

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