Abstract
Hydrogen is an alternative fuel that is currently being used in fuel cell (FC) applications. This study focuses on electric-assisted bicycles (electric bicycles) powered by FCs and aims to determine the configuration of an FC system based on power demand. Metal hydrides (MHs) were used in the investigation to facilitate the containment of FC systems with improved hydrogen storage capacity. The flow performance was evaluated in our previous study; thus, here we focused on understanding the hydrogen flow characteristics from storage and the weight gain of the cartridge. Through experiments performed on existing electric-assisted bicycles, the relationship between the load weight and the power demand was evaluated. Furthermore, the power capacity of Li-ion batteries and FC systems was compared. No loss in performance was observed up to an additional payload weight of 8 kg. Combining the FC unit with an auxiliary battery offers up to 6.81× benefits with a significant weight capacity (8 kg). It is inferred that the current MH tank design does not support the required amount of hydrogen. The hydrogen flow could be supported by the exhaust heat of the FC to the MH.
Highlights
Daud et al [1] indicated that fossil fuels cannot satisfy the world energy demand and, even if they could, they adversely impact the environment
The bike speed was measured by a rotation speed sensor, electric demand was expressed by a voltmeter and ammeter, wind speed was measured by an anemometer, and distance traveled was measured by integrating the bike speed
The application of an fuel cell (FC) battery with an Metal hydrides (MHs) cartridge to an electric-assisted bicycle was discussed, which can advance the implementation of hydrogen economy, as MH can store hydrogen in small spaces and can charge or discharge hydrogen at low pressures
Summary
Daud et al [1] indicated that fossil fuels cannot satisfy the world energy demand and, even if they could, they adversely impact the environment. In East Asia, there is already a sense of crisis due to the dependence on oil and natural gas imports [2]. In this context, renewable energy has appropriate potential to provide solutions; the renewable energy sources have certain limitations. Hydrogen, an energy source that can be used to produce electricity, is being considered as the most promising fuel. The conventional methods and technologies of extracting hydrogen from oil and natural gas are already in use, indicating that the renewable resources derived from biomass feedstocks and water can be utilized using processes such as fermentation, gasification, and electrolysis. China is projected to have the largest hydrogen demand
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