Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle‐to‐Grid: Experimental Feasibility and Operational Performance as Balancing Power Plant

Abstract

The world's future energy supply will include intermittent renewable sources, such as solar and wind power. To guarantee reliability of supply, fast‐reacting, dispatchable and renewable back‐up power plants are required. One promising alternative is parked and grid‐connected hydrogen‐powered fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) in “Vehicle‐to‐Grid“ systems. We modified a commercial FCEV and installed an external 9.5 kW three‐phase alternating current (AC) grid connection. Our experimental verification of this set‐up shows that FCEVs can be used for mobility as well as generating power when parked. Our experimental results demonstrate that present‐day grid‐connected FCEVs can respond to high load gradients in the range of –760 % s−1 to + 730 % s−1, due to the parallel connection of the high voltage battery and the fuel cell stack. Virtual power plants composed of multiple grid‐connected FCEVs could perform higher power gradients than existing fast‐reacting thermal power plants with typical power gradients of 1.67 % s−1. Hydrogen consumption in 9.5 kW AC grid‐connected mode was 0.55 kg h−1, resulting in a Tank‐To‐Grid‐AC efficiency of 43% on a higher heating value basis (51 % on a lower heating value basis). Direct current to alternating current efficiency was 95 %.

Technoeconomic Analysis of Fuel Cell Vehicle‐to‐Grid (FCV2G) System Supported by Photovoltaic Energy

“…In the mentioned study, the cities in Spain and Germany are selected to analyze the total system cost of energy in terms of location selection, dimensioning, and component. [ 23 ] Oldenbroek, Hamoen [ 24 ] experimentally perform by using a commercial FCV connected to the grid, and system efficiency/hydrogen consumption issues are emphasized in the study. In ref.…”

Neural network‐based energy management of multi‐source (battery/UC/FC) powered electric vehicle

“…15 Because of large impact on acceleration and drive range on a single charge, battery is considered one of the most important components in HESS. 16 In some vehicle applications, 14,17 FCs are considered as an alternative energy converter to battery. If hydrogen is produced by a renewable energy source, the FC propulsion system produces no carbon emissions.…”

Hydrogen fuel cell scooter with plug-out features for combined transport and residential power generation

“…Nonetheless, little is known on the main technical difficulties with respect to fuel cell degradation and reliability of FCEVs operating in V2G. In our previous studies we have demonstrated the connection of a fuel cell electric car to the Dutch electrical grid providing V2G services [28]. As well the connection of a residential building operating in V2G mode was studied.…”