Performance Characterization and Comparison of Power Control Strategies for Fuel Cell Based Hybrid Electric Vehicles

Fuel Cell-Hybrid Electric Vehicles (FC- HEVs) have become one of the most promising alternatives for the development of low emission and fuel efficient vehicles. A FC-HEV drive train essentially requires an optimal control strategy for appropriate power management and regulation between different on-board energy sources and the electric propulsion system. In this paper, two popular types of power control strategies for FC-HEVs are investigated. These include the power follower scheme and the equivalent consumption minimization strategy (ECMS). Both control strategies are modelled, simulated, and tested specifically for a rear- wheel driven mid-sized sport-utility vehicle (SUV). The behaviour and favourability of the two strategies from the point of view of critical performance aspects are compared and analyzed, based on which, further optimization suggestions and techniques are presented.