Performance Analysis of Different Fuel Cell Lightweight Vehicle Power Configurations While Operating on an Inclined Road

Environmental, health, and economic factors are driving consumer concern and demand for zero-emission automobiles that use alternative energy power sources. One promising zero-emission power generator is a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). PEMFC produce electrochemically generated DC power by using gaseous hydrogen as fuel and ambient air as an oxidizer source, exhausting only water vapor. The power system must be optimized for high endurance and be capable of generating sufficient power for demanding road conditions. A lightweight fuel cell vehicle (L-FCV) was built and static measurements were made using a dynamometer on a simulated inclined road. Three powertrain configurations were studied. First and ultra-capacitor was used to boost power, which increased the wheel torque. Secondly, a mechanical gearing system was used to increase torque while maintaining the same speed. Lastly, a system combining the ultra-capacitor with the mechanical gearing system was studied. Data from these results were used to build a computational model of the power system. The model will serve as an analytical tool to optimize the performance and efficiency of future L-FCV.