Towards Efficient and Sustainable Transportation: A Novel Energy Management Strategy for Multi-Stack Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles

This study delves into the optimization of energy management strategies (EMS) tailored for electric vehicles equipped with multi-stack fuel cell (MFC), with a particular emphasis on high-efficiency proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Addressing challenges associated with the slow response of fuel cells, the research endeavors to enhance efficiency by developing advanced EMS capable of effectively regulating energy flow between the fuel cell and auxiliary power sources. The proposed EMS operates at two distinct levels: the first level maintains battery charge within specified ranges, while the second level calculates the optimal power demand from the MFC system based on various parameters. Comparative analyses with existing strategies, namely equal distribution, and daisy chain, are conducted against a novel rule-based approach. This innovative approach factors in battery discharge limitations, minimum stack operating power, and optimized power distribution among stacks, resulting in minimized hydrogen consumption. Simulation results conducted using the AVL CRUISE™ M tool illustrate the superior performance of the novel EMS in terms of fuel consumption, start/stop cycles, and operation times. Notably, the proposed strategy takes a holistic approach by focusing on mitigating fuel cell degradation, thereby contributing to enhanced sustainability and efficiency.