Fuel cells applications

Principally, there is a range of potential applications of fuel cells in the mobile sector. However, due to the high market expectations, many of the past efforts have focused on applications in passenger vehicles. [5]

4.1 Cars

There are currently no fuel cell cars available for commercial sale, over 20 FCEVs prototypes and demonstration cars have been released since 2009.[6] Automobiles such as the Honda FCX Clarity, Toyota FCHV-adv and Mercedes-Benz F-Cell are all pre-commercial examples of fuel cell electric vehicles. Fuel cell electric vehicles have driven more than 3 million miles, with more than 27,000 refuelings.[7]

Fig. 8 - Honda FCX Clarity

Several of the car manufacturers have announced plans to introduce a production model of a fuel cell car in 2015. Toyota has stated that it plans to introduce such a vehicle at a price of around $50,000.[8] Mercedes Benz announced in 2011 that it plans to move up the production of the Mercedes-Benz F-Cell to 2014.[9]

Some notable releases since 2009 include: [6]

· HyundaiTucson-ix35 FCEV (2010)

· BMW 1 series - fuel cell hybrid (2010)

· Mercedes-Benz-F800-(2010)

· Mazda 5 - Hydrogen RE Hybrid (2009)

· FiatPanda–HyRAN (2009)

· Audi Q5-FCEV (2009)

· Nissan X-Trail - FCV (2009)

· VolkswagenCaddy–MaxiHyMotion (2009)

· Mercedes-Benz B-Class - F-Cell (2009)

4.2 Buses

The use of fuel cells in buses is generally considered as the ideal application for the market introduction of fuel cells. The integration of hydrogen storage systems as well as potential range limitations are of no significance. In addition, low noise and air pollutant emission levels are of higher importance in highly populated urbanareas. Due to the typical driving cycle requirements, higher fuel reductions compared to diesel buses can be expected than for passenger vehicles. However, in bus applications hybrid diesel buses are already state-of-the-art. If they are equipped with brake energy recovery, which is particularly attractive in the stop and go city-driving pattern,the achievable reduction potential of fuel cell buses is lower. [5]

4.3 Motorcycles and bicycles

In 2005 the British firm Intelligent Energy produced the first ever working hydrogen run motorcycle called the ENV (Emission Neutral Vehicle). The motorcycle holds enough fuel to run for four hours, and to travel 160 km in an urban area, at a top speed of 80 km/h (50 mph). [12]

The Taiwanese company APFCT conducts a live street test with 80 fuel cell scooters [13] for Taiwan’s Bureau of Energy using the fueling system from Italy's “Acta Spa” with a 2012 production target of 1,000 fuel cell scooters.

4.4 Railways

The use of fuel cells in railways is considered particularly for non-electrified railway lines. In electric trains, the useof fuel cells is generally less attractive than in buses because the power requirements differ completely. Theshape of the power demanded as a function of time is more rectangular than the driving cycle of city buses: full loadand zero load – which are in regions of lower fuel cell system efficiency – occur more frequently. Therefore, theachievable fuel reduction is considered to be less than 10% in certain railway applications. [5]

Date: 2014-12-29; view: 1223