Fuel cell electrified propulsion systems for long-haul heavy-duty trucks: present and future cost-oriented sizing

Fuel cell electrified propulsion may currently represent a promising option for long-haul heavy-duty trucks. However, appropriately sizing fuel cell electrified propulsion systems to fully exploit the economic potential of this technology when applied to heavy-duty trucks still represents an open research question. To overcome this drawback, a methodology to size the fuel cell electrified propulsion system for a heavy-duty truck to minimize its total cost of ownership as function of different present- and future-oriented cost scenarios is presented in this paper. Retained cost contributions include both the retail price and the hydrogen and electricity lifetime costs as evaluated by implementing an optimal energy management approach in diversified driving missions. Fuel cell electrified truck powertrain sizing layouts are compared with battery electric powertrain option, and the latter is suggested as more appealing in the present cost scenario. Nevertheless, thanks to reductions forecasted in 10 years and 30 years both in terms of component costs, hydrogen cost and electricity cost, rightsizing the fuel cell electrified truck propulsion system according to the proposed methodology allows demonstrating its economic viability compared with a battery electric powertrain layout.

Automated summary

This paper presents a methodology for sizing the fuel cell electrified propulsion system for heavy-duty trucks to minimize the total cost of ownership. Comparisons with battery electric powertrain option show that the latter is more appealing in the present cost scenario. However, the proposed methodology demonstrates the economic viability of fuel cell electrified trucks in the future cost scenario.