Industrial research on a solution for hydrogen propulsion in light and medium duty electric vehicles with fuel cells (FCEVLDTRUCK)

Project description

The project is part of Technological Challenge 1 of the Sustainable Automotive Technology Program (PTAS, in its Spanish acronym) call: "Development of components and platforms for electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen-powered vehicles, section 1.4. "Hydrogen propulsion systems, with development and optimisation of the materials, components and subsystems of the fuel cell and its storage system in the vehicle".

The overall objective of the project is to design and develop a power module based on a 20 kW PEM fuel cell. This power module includes both the stack or fuel cell itself (stack of electrochemical cells, consisting of a bipolar plate, catalysed membrane and gasket) and the auxiliary components and cooling systems.

In addition to the stack, a control unit or FCCU and a current converter specific for the application are being developed for the module: a range extender for a plug-in battery. In addition, a new concept for battery cooling will be developed.

Initially, laboratory tests will be conducted to validate the power module, and final tests and integrated operational analysis will be performed on a 12t prototype electric truck. Data analysis and correlation of digital twin data against real use cases in food logistics distribution will also be conducted.