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Design and simulation of a powertrain system for a fuel cell extended range electric golf car

Abstract:

This article analyses the energy behaviour of an electric golf car as the penultimate step to developing a fuel cell electric light-duty vehicle. The configuration used is that of an extended range electric vehicle with a fuel cell (FCEREV). The system includes two energy storage sources to drive the powertrain: the first consists of using energy stored in a lead-acid battery pack and the second consists of hydrogen stored in metal hydrides and its use is based on a 200Wpolymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) type fuel cell. The type of system also allows charging the vehicle by connecting it to the electrical grid. The aim of the proposed design is to extend the autonomy of the golf car allowing it to make several trips in one day without having to charge it by connecting it to the electrical grid, considering the large amount of time this would take. The analysis of the performance has been set based on the current regulation and is therefore within the range for these types of vehicles. This arrangement extends autonomy by 38% as opposed to the pure EV electrical mode, which allows for making at least two more trips with a hydrogen tank filled with 0.085 kg H2.