Fuels for Fuel Cell Vehicles: Vehicle Design and Infrastructure Issues

Abstract

Fuel cell \'ehicles are currently being d~veloped whicl1 use ABSTRACT hydrogen. me1l1anol or gasolin~. Synthetic middle distillat(SMD) is a leading contender as .1 low polluting fuel for We compare, with respect to vehicle cl1aracteristics adv.lnced intern.11 combustion engine vehicles. and it h~l(design. perfom1ance, fuel economy) and infr.1StfUcture be~n pr\lpu$~d 1l1al SMD could be u~~IJ in fuel l:ell veI1id~r equirements (cost of producing, transporting clnd d~livering as w~ll. fuel), four possible energy c.lITier options for use with fuel cell vehicles: "1'0 ~Slim.lll: the pl:rlimllanl:e 01' all~m.llivl: l'u~1 l:~11 v~llidl yp~S. WI: have d~v~lup~d .1 v~hidl: ~imulalion mud~l. .compres~ed lIydrugen g.ls induding d~l~lilt:d modt:l~ uf onbu,lfd fu~1 prul:~ssur~, lniĩ s us~d lo l:omp.lfe tht: vehicl~ perli)m\anc~. fu~1 el:onomy. ., ni~llt;t[!ul will\ unbll,lTd ~t~.un r~fonlling .wt.'ight. ~Ind cost for v,lfioU$ v~hicl~ p.lf,uneters. fuel lor.lgt: dl\lil:es and driving c)'cles, lnfrastructur~ l:Upil~1l ., :,a...;oline with ()[\hoard p.lfli~1l uxid.lliun C()sts (including tll~ .Iddt:d Cu~l~ (If fu~1 prudul:tiun. distribuli\ln. and rt:fueling st.lliuns). d~livereIJ fu~1 cost. ..synuletic middf~ di$tillates (SMD) derived fr()m fuel cost pc:r kilumteter ~Ind lifecycl\: l:u~l of tr.tI\~porlalion Q:ltur.tl ,gas willi ()nbo~lfd p~lfti~1l oxid~ltion. .Ire eslimal~d fi)r ~.Ich allenl.lliv~. Considt:ring bulll v~hicle ~lnIJ infr.lslructurl: issue~. pussiblt: rue] slr.lll:gi~Õ ur simulatiuns indicate tlmt hydrogen is the pref~rred fuel I\:ading lo 1I1C: commerl:ializ.lliun 01' l'ut:1 l:ell \'I:hiclt:s .Iff or fuel cell vehicles in temls of vehicle weight. simplicity, discus£ed. fl~xibililY wuuld be gain~d by u£ing fut:l~ \\'llidl first cost .and fuel economy. 111e rota] capit.1l cost fur could .Ilsu Sl:rv~ uliler adv.lnct:d v\:hid~ typt:s .UIIJ .lfl: t:4uipment to brin~ hydrugen tu tl1e fuel cell (including bolil e~lsily l:ump~ltiblt: witll tl1t: exi£ling g.lsolint: rt:fut:ling unbu.lfd fuel processu~ ~Ind off. vehicle fut:1 infrastructure) systeill. Huwt:vt:r. fur fu~II:t:11 v~hil:l\:~ witl\ onbo.lfd fu~1 i$ comp.lnlble fl.)r rneu1.tI\ol. g.1$oline and SMD. and h)w~r prol:t:ssors. 1Ilert: is i.1 tr~lde-l.)ff in lower fu~1 ct:11 vehicle 1"l)f hydro,gen.

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“…Compressed gaseous storage is the only technically viable onboard H2 storage technology at present, which poses a challenge because compressed gaseous H2 storage systems have only 1/10 the volumetric storage density of gasoline. But fuel-cell cars can be made much more fuel-efficient than today's typical ICE cars [Ogden et al, 1998;, and fuel-efficient cars can be designed to provide adequate range between refuelings without compromising passenger or trunk (storage) space [28] .…”

“…Because a H2 supply infrastructure for transportation is not in place anywhere in the world, some auto-makers and their suppliers are pursuing market-launching FCVfueling strategies based on MeOH and gasoline as energy- Articles carriers delivered to the car [29] -despite the fact that H2 FCVs would be less costly to own and operate than either MeOH or gasoline FCVs [Ogden et al, 1998;. Currently, fuel-cell cars are much more expensive than today's cars.…”

“…Ogden et al [1998; designed a H2 fuel-cell car which, relative to today's typical cars, would have lower aerodynamic drag, less rolling resistance, and reduced weight -without compromising performance and interior space requirements. Its estimated gasoline-equivalent fuel consumption is .022 l/km.…”