Towards clean urban mobility: A hydrogen-powered self-sustaining dual station for fuel cell and battery electric bus fleets

The transition towards sustainable urban mobility requires innovative energy solutions that can support both fuel cell electric vehicles and battery electric vehicles. This paper introduces a hydrogen-powered, self-sufficient hybrid station, presented as a modeled system based on thermodynamic analysis, designed to meet the energy demands of both fuel cell electric buses (FCEBs) and battery electric buses (BEBs) for public transportation. It integrates hydrogen refueling infrastructure with on-site power generation through fuel cells, which supply electricity to high-power battery chargers. The system features energy recovery mechanisms, utilizing the cryogenic energy from hydrogen expansion for precooling during refueling and reclaiming compression heat for preheating hydrogen before fuel cell use. Besides, the mechanical energy generated during isentropic expansion of hydrogen is harnessed to drive the compressor. By enabling mechanical, thermal, and cold energy recovery and utilization, the proposed station eliminates external power dependency, enhance operational efficiency and sustainability. The results indicate that the station operates with a hydrogen consumption rate of only 0.16 kg/s while simultaneously supporting multiple energy demands, which includes refueling two FCEBs within 15 minutes, each equipped with a 51.2 kg onboard storage tank at 350 bar, as well as fully charging 10 BEBs, each with an 800-kWh battery, within three hours using depot chargers. Moreover, the station features a high energy efficiency of 87.27%. Overall, this innovative approach offers a zero-emission solution to accelerate the adoption of clean energy in public transportation, setting a benchmark for future hydrogen-based infrastructure for clean mobility in urban environments. • A self-sustaining dual station for electric bus charging and refueling presented. • Enhanced energy utilization by implementing various energy recovery strategies. • The station supports charging 80 BEBs and refueling 192 FCEBs daily. • The proposed system achieved 87.27% efficiency.