POWERTRAIN W
ith the Hydrogen Innovation Initiative recently earmarking the hydrogen technology
market to be worth up to $1 trillion in the next decade, R&D efforts are set to ramp up in this space, and innovations in fuel cells are at the forefront. Leading by example, Viritech,
Horiba MIRA and Intelligent Energy have teamed up to create a fully functional fuel cell prototype heavy goods vehicle, unveiled to the public for the first time at the Cenex Expo at Millbrook, England in September. The ICEBreaker features a 16kWh lithium- ion battery with 400kW charge/ discharge capacity consisting of a pair of Intelligent Energy IE-DRIVE HD100 fuel cells operating in parallel to deliver 200kW each. The whole thing came together in
under 12 months. Greg Harris, chief commercial officer at Intelligent Energy explains, “We were already working on our automotive fuel cell when we were approached at the start of the project, so we could work quickly. Right from the beginning we decided to focus on a fuel-cell strong architecture. These two fuel cells provide the majority of the power needed for the vehicle. Because the transient response is so fast, we can do a lot of the acceleration direct from the fuel cells. The battery just gives a bit of
We want to work with
customers on fleet trials and also apply what we’ve learned to other sectors
a boost and does some regeneration, as the fuel cells can’t do this.” Heat management is crucial for
fuel cells, just as it is for pure EVs. This vehicle features a novel system, differing from the conventional circulating liquid glycol via a radiator. Harris continues, “Even with highly efficient fuel cell systems like these, as much heat as electricity is generated. We chose to use evaporative cooling, which has enabled us to have operational benefits like much smaller radiators. We inject liquid water into the fuel cell which removes the heat by evaporating. This is then recovered in a condenser and solves the humidification issue as we are injecting water all the time. This also helps with the packaging.” Some water escapes through the
exhaust, but as water is a by-product of the cell anyway this is easily replaced.
TWIN TIME Using its modelling expertise, Horiba MIRA has built a digital twin of the truck in order to see if this method can offer up a more efficient approach to vehicle development. “We didn’t want to use the conventional design, build and test approach. Part of the project consists of creating and validating these tools against the test vehicle,” confirms Harris. Post-project, MIRA will develop novel TCO optimisation solutions that will bring forward the point at which FCEVs reach cost parity with ICE which is useful for potential buyers to take into account. The vehicle is now at MIRAs proving
ground in Nuneaton which not only provides a site for testing but will also allow potential customers to inspect and trial the vehicle. “Looking ahead,” Harris says, “We want to work with customers on fleet trials and also apply what we’ve learned to other sectors.”
The ICEBreaker features a 16kWh lithium-ion battery and two IE-DRIVE HD100 fuel cells
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