Assessing the performance of a demonstrative hydrogen fuel cell power train in the chassis of an internal combustion engine vehicle

Abstract

In the present day in the global context, approximately 2 billion internal combustion engines (ICEs) are estimated to be in use. Nearly 7.3 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) were released into the atmosphere as per the survey on the transportation sector in 2020, making up 41% of all emissions. To solve pollution challenges related to ICEs, recent advancements of alternatives to ICEs have pushed the globe to establish clean energy sources such as hydrogen fuel cells. The conversion of an ICE vehicle to a fuel cell vehicle is able to add further support to its development besides the 30% emission reduction since the old ICE vehicle would not be discarded. FCEVs are seen as a true replacement between BEVs and ICEs since more energy can be stored in less space as compared to BEVs. The objective of this paper is to analyse the energy consumption of a fuel cell-driven motor in the internal combustion engine vehicle chassis of Maruti 800, through mathematical modelling, then compare the specifications with that of an ICE-driven system. The analysis provides details on the optimization of drive system components to maximise the fuel cell energy consumption efficiency based on fuel cell power source requirements for a range of velocities and road gradients. The modifiable specifications of drive system components in the mathematical model ensure reproducibility for any drive cycles and system scenarios.