Boosting Efficiency and Extending Service Life: Innovations in Fuel Cell Vehicle Energy Management
Key Ideas
- The 'FC-IMPACT' project focuses on optimizing energy distribution between fuel cell and battery to reduce hydrogen consumption and extend fuel cell life.
- Predictive energy management strategies utilize route information to charge the battery before high-energy-demand segments, increasing efficiency.
- Collaboration between TU Wien and AVL led to successful validation of energy management strategies, with over 6% reduction in hydrogen consumption observed.
- Ongoing research aims to further enhance energy efficiency and prolong the service life of fuel cells in vehicles.
Fuel cell vehicles are advancing in efficiency and sustainability through innovative energy management strategies. The 'FC-IMPACT' project, led by Prof Christoph Hametner and his team at TU Wien, focuses on optimizing the energy distribution between fuel cells and batteries in vehicles. By utilizing predictive energy management, which considers factors like speed restrictions and altitude profiles, the team aims to reduce hydrogen consumption and extend the fuel cell's service life. Through a collaboration with AVL, a fuel cell demonstration vehicle based on a VW Passat was tested. Results showed a significant over 6% reduction in hydrogen consumption compared to non-predictive strategies. This progress not only enhances efficiency but also contributes to prolonging the life of fuel cells. Ongoing research is dedicated to further refining energy management concepts to improve overall energy efficiency and support the longevity of fuel cells in vehicles.