Hydrogen-Powered Vehicles: Comparing the Powertrain Efficiency and Sustainability of Fuel Cell versus Internal Combustion Engine Cars

Kirill Durkin, Ali Khanafer, Philip Liseau, Adam Stjernström-Eriksson, Arvid Svahn, Linnéa Tobiasson, Tatiana Santos Andrade () and Jimmy Ehnberg ()
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Kirill Durkin: Department of Electrical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 41296 Göteborg, Sweden
Ali Khanafer: Department of Electrical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 41296 Göteborg, Sweden
Philip Liseau: Department of Electrical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 41296 Göteborg, Sweden
Adam Stjernström-Eriksson: Department of Electrical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 41296 Göteborg, Sweden
Arvid Svahn: Department of Electrical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 41296 Göteborg, Sweden
Linnéa Tobiasson: Department of Electrical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 41296 Göteborg, Sweden
Tatiana Santos Andrade: Department of Electrical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 41296 Göteborg, Sweden
Jimmy Ehnberg: Department of Electrical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 41296 Göteborg, Sweden

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 5, 1-15

Abstract: Due to the large quantities of carbon emissions generated by the transportation sector, cleaner automotive technologies are needed aiming at a green energy transition. In this scenario, hydrogen is pointed out as a promising fuel that can be employed as the fuel of either a fuel cell or an internal combustion engine vehicle. Therefore, in this work, we propose the design and modeling of a fuel cell versus an internal combustion engine passenger car for a driving cycle. The simulation was carried out using the quasistatic simulation toolbox tool in Simulink considering the main powertrain components for each vehicle. Furthermore, a brief analysis of the carbon emissions associated with the hydrogen production method is addressed to assess the clean potential of hydrogen-powered vehicles compared to conventional fossil fuel-fueled cars. The resulting analysis has shown that the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle is almost twice as efficient compared to internal combustion engines, resulting in a lower fuel consumption of 1.05 kg-H 2 /100 km in the WLTP driving cycle for the fuel cell vehicle, while the combustion vehicle consumed about 1.79 kg-H 2 /100 km. Regarding using different hydrogen colors to fuel the vehicle, hydrogen-powered vehicles fueled with blue and grey hydrogen presented higher carbon emissions compared to petrol-powered vehicles reaching up to 2–3 times higher in the case of grey hydrogen. Thus, green hydrogen is needed as fuel to keep carbon emissions lower than conventional petrol-powered vehicles.

Keywords: hydrogen fuel; hydrogen fuel cell; fuel cell vehicle; HFCV; ICE; HICEV; hydrogen internal combustion engine; quasistatic simulation toolbox; QSS-TB; driving cycle; WLTP (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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