2 2 A U G U S T 2 0 1 8
AUTOMOTIVE
APPLICATIONS
AND BEYOND
AVL is developing fuel cell powertrain
systems as well as portable and
stationary power generators based
on two types of fuel cell technologies:
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane
Fuel Cells (PEMFC) and Solid
Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC).
The benefits of PEMFC make it the
ideal power source for electrified
propulsion systems. Long driving
ranges and short refuelling times
make it a convenient technology
for drivers, and it offers high performance
for driveability and driver
satisfaction. The AVL PEMFC systems
come with the benefits of high
efficiency, high power density and
stack diagnostics-based control
which can extend the fuel cell stack’s
lifetime and reduce cost. Cell/stack/
system development and engineering,
e-drive powertrain engineering,
vehicle integration, software development,
prototype build and system
testing throughout the development
process are just some of the services
that AVL is able to offer in this area.
SOFC technology has different
but equally valuable benefits. Portable
power generators employing
this technology can be used
fuel cell
to provide reliable, clean, off-grid electricity, and the applications are potentially
widespread. AVL’s SOFC can be fuelled by conventional hydrocarbon
fuels such as diesel, gasoline, ethanol, LPG, CNG and future
biofuels, including bio-methane, gas-to-liquid and biomass-to-liquid fuels.
The traits of SOFC performance, though different to PEMFC, make
them ideal for extending the range of electric vehicles, as auxiliary power
units (AP), as back-up electric generators or for maritime and other mobile
power generator applications. For SOFC range extenders and APU, the
AVL unique selling propositions are: components design (e.g. gas processing
unit, reformer, burner), system design, integration and control procedures.
AVL is leading the way with SOFC technology in the power range of
3– 30 kW, and has already been working with industry partners, passenger
car and commercial vehicle OEMs as well as non-automotive OEMs to
prove their viability in practical applications. In collaboration with Nissan,
AVL developed the first SOFC vehicle in the world (Nissan’s e-Bio Fuel
Cell Vehicle). The vehicle was presented by Nissan’s CEO at the Olympic
Games in Rio in 2016. In this project, a 5 kW SOFC system based on ethanol
acts as a range extender (battery charger) for a Nissan eNV200. The original
range of Nissan’s BEV is 170 km. With the integration of a 5 kW SOFC
system, the range of the vehicle could be increased to more than 600 km.
AVL is also exploring other applications and is, among others, extending its
research efforts to developing stationary SOFC Combined Heat and Power
(CHP) generators that can be used to provide continuous power on-site
and on-demand. This means power for homes, factories, data centers and
PEM fuel cells are the ideal power source
for electrified propulsion systems.
The AVL SOFC system was
integrated as a range extender
into a Nissan eNV200, increasing
the vehicles range by more than
400 km.