Improving Efficiency Through Adaptive Internal Model Control of Hydrogen-Based Genset Used as a Range Extender for Electric Vehicles

This paper addresses a hydrogen-based generator (genset) adaptive control used as a range extender of a battery electric vehicle. Based on a commercially available gasoline genset, this hydrogen-based generator can use a mixture of gasoline and hydrogen in which the proportion of gasoline varies between 0% and 100%. This hybrid energy system is controlled by an onboard energy management system that splits the electric power demand between the battery and the genset. Given the genset power profile, a maximum efficiency tracking module was designed to provide optimal operating conditions (engine speed and electric power) to a real-time controller. To tackle the genset nonlinearities, an adaptive controller based on the internal model control approach is designed and successfully validated. In addition, a comparative study with an industrial-based control method indicates that the proposed approach is effective and can achieve significant improvement in genset efficiency.