Petrol vehicles are being augmented byelectric and hybridized drive systems; electric vehicles, in turn, are nowbeing hybridized with what many now call the “Fuel of the Future,” hydrogen. Electric vehicles - whetherthey be passenger sedans, freight trucks, city buses, or small carts - all facethe “range anxiety” problem. The larger the battery, the longerthe range - but with diminishing returns due to the increased weight of thebattery. Furthermore, batteries must be charged or, where charging simply takestoo long, swapped out for a fresh pack, thus further increasing the financialburden on the end user. Today’stransport challenge, then, is not the electrification of vehicles - which isincreasing at a steady pace - but rather with available battery technology.
Hydrogen fuel cells operate like atraditional engine in the sense that fuel goes in one end and power (whetherelectric or mechanical) comes out the other end. However, despite thisconceptual similarity, fuel cell engines differ from internal combustionengines (ICEs) in almost every other respect: The fuel cell engines installedby Novocel in 48V- & 72V-platform carts, forklifts, and boats are almostsilent, have no moving parts (excluding valves), weigh much less than anequivalent li-ion battery, and emit only water and heat as by-products. The “fuel” consumed by fuel cells is simply hydrogen, the lightest element inthe universe, and already one of the world’s most common and economical industrial gases.
Hydrogen fuel cells are obviously superiorto both ICE-powered and AGM-type BEVs. However, with the notable exception oflarge auto firms, most fuel cell firms today have products that generate steadypower for long periods; unfortunately, electric vehicles require surges inpower based on driving conditions (ascending a slope, say, or passing anothervehicle). Mass-market fuel cells available today are unable to meet this “dynamic response” requirement.
Novocel’s solution is to hybridize the dynamic response of a tractionbattery with the steady power of a fuel cell to build a 48V or 72V power packthat has both the “strength” of a li-ion battery and the “endurance” of a fuel cell. In our patented system the fuel cell both powers theload as well as charges a small battery, based on operating conditions. Thebattery, in turn, “buffers” fluctuating loads (10+ C), draws power fromthe fuel cell, and also has the ability to recharge from regenerative breakingand other power-saving technologies, depending on the electric drive design.This hybrid power pack combines the best aspects of both battery energy storagetechnology as well as fuel cell energy generating technology.
Contact us today for a power solution foryour light vehicle!
