Fuel optimization strategy for hydrogen fuel cell range extender vehicles applying genetic algorithms

Whether or not alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) will finally find a place in the global mass-market or even will dominate the vehicle segment will depend on several success factors: reduction of customer anxiety, fast recharging, better charging infrastructure, environmental justice policies and some others. Current technological advances in battery electric vehicles and hydrogen fuelled electric vehicles could represent a hopefully option in the near future. Nevertheless, and until electric/hydrogen technological barriers are not torn down, both power architecture do not have an opportunity to be fully introduced in the vehicle market. In this paper, the authors present a powertrain architecture concept based in current fossil fuel extender range, but changing it to a hydrogen fuel cell stack system that works as range extender. The objective is to probe how optimization techniques, by the inclusion of genetic algorithms, could be a crucial help when planning the fuel consumption/selection. The paper ambition is to highlight the possibilities of this powertrain and its appropriated management to allow hydrogen become an energy carrier feasible today in the automotive world.