Hydrogen-Fuel Cell Hybrid Powertrain: Conceptual Layouts and Current Applications

Transportation is one of the largest sources of CO2 emissions, accounting for more than 20% of worldwide emissions. However, it is one of the areas where decarbonization presents the greatest hurdles, owing to its capillarity and the benefits that are associated with the use of fossil fuels in terms of energy density, storage, and transportation. In order to accomplish comprehensive decarbonization in the transport sector, it will be required to encourage a genuine transition to low-carbon fuels and the widespread deployment of the necessary infrastructures to allow for a large-scale innovation. Renewable hydrogen shows potential for sustainable transportation applications, whether in fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), such as automobiles, trucks, and trains, or as a raw material for ship and airplane synthetic fuels. The present paper aims to present how hydrogen-fuel cell hybrid powertrains for road vehicles work in terms of conceptual layouts and operating strategies. A comprehensive overview of real and current applications is presented, concerning existing prototypes and commercially available vehicles, with a focus on the main key performance indicators, such as efficiency, mileage, and energy consumption.

Automated summary

Transportation is a major contributor to CO2 emissions, posing significant challenges for decarbonization. To achieve comprehensive decarbonization, transitioning to low-carbon fuels and developing necessary infrastructures is crucial. Renewable hydrogen is a promising option for sustainable transportation, applicable to fuel cell electric vehicles and synthetic fuels for ships and airplanes.