EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF AN ELECTRIC MINIBUS WITH A FUEL CELL RANGE EXTENDER

Promotion of public transportation can become an effective way to address land transport problems if its development is accompanied by reduction of energy consumption and pollutants emission. An experimental analysis of a 4285 kg electric drived minibus powered by fuel cells has been accomplished in order to set out the detailed energy consumption and assess the potential of technology evolution. A 12 kW fuel cell stack powers a plug-in electric powertrain composed of a 24.8 kW electric traction motor, capable of recovering brake energy, and a 72V/125Ah battery representing the electric energy storage. The fuel cell supplies power, by a 38-58V/72V DC/DC converter, and can feed the traction battery or, through a DC Bus and a chopper, the electric motor. The battery feeds the electric motor by the DC Bus as well. Energy consumption of auxiliary components are fed by a dedicated battery. Purpose is to evaluate system’s performances.