Energy Management System Optimization for a Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle based on Power Losses Minimization

A viable alternative to internal combustion vehicles is the fuel cell hybrid vehicle. This research provides an energy management optimization algorithm for the power distribution system of fuel cell hybrid vehicles oriented to increase its driving range. The system consists of a fuel cell as the main energy source, a battery directly connected to the power bus as the secondary energy source, and a power converter between the fuel cell and the power bus. The power to move hybrid the vehicle is provided by both energy sources, battery, and fuel cell. The proposed optimization algorithm is based on the minimizing of the energy losses in the system and is validated with simulations made in PSIM® and SIMULINK®, by using oversized, undersized, and correct sized batteries. The sizing obtained from the use of the proposed optimization strategy is compared with the results of other proposals, achieving improvements in the total mass, volume, and cost of the system. Finally, the system configuration that minimizes the sizing and the one that minimizes the energy losses are compared.