Development of an energy efficient driving strategy for a fuel cell vehicle over a fixed distance and average velocity

This paper examines the energy efficiency of a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle operating at different power settings. The goal is to develop a driving strategy to maximize energy efficiency for a fixed distance and average velocity. The test vehicle is equipped with a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell system that provides electric power to a brushless DC motor. This vehicle was designed to compete in the Shell Eco Marathon, an international competition in which the winners are the teams that go the furthest using the least amount of energy. A computer model that simulated the motor and vehicle dynamics was used to predict the output power demanded from the fuel cell. An actual test was then conducted to verify, compare and analyze the performance of the motor for various speed ranges. The result showed how the efficiency varied for different vehicle accelerations. This data can then be used as a basis to operate the vehicle with optimal efficiency.