Modelling and Control of a Fuel Cell and Battery Electric Vehicle for Energy Optimization

The paper describes the development of an energetic model to define a hybrid fuel cell + battery electric vehicle for performance analysis and the powertrain optimization. In fact, it is fundamental to balance battery powertrain, also considering the higher mass needed for such type of energy storage systems. The purpose of the paper is to develop a model capable of evaluating the consumption of a vehicle with an electric motor, finding the optimal ratio between the number of cells of the battery and the hydrogen mass to be sent in a fuel cell, to ensure a given range of 800 km. The model also describes the repartition strategy between the Fuel-cell and the battery powertrain, to maximize the efficiency of both the systems, minimizing the energy scraps due to low-efficiency operating points.