Unleashing The Power: Fuel Cell Cars' Maximum Output

Fuel cell cars are powered by compressed hydrogen gas that feeds into an onboard fuel cell stack that transforms the fuel’s chemical energy into electrical energy. The power demands in the average car vary by an order of magnitude, from 15 kilowatts (20 horsepower) to keep a vehicle at a steady highway speed on a flat road to perhaps 10 or 20 times that amount for maximum acceleration to 60 mph or higher. The fuel cell in the Toyota Mirai, the best-selling hydrogen car in the U.S., is rated at 90 kW (120 horsepower).

Power output of hydrogen fuel cells is steady and suitable for backup power use

The power output of hydrogen fuel cells is steady and suitable for backup power use. This is because the power demands in the average car vary by an order of magnitude, from 15 kilowatts (20 horsepower) to keep a vehicle at a steady highway speed on a flat road to perhaps 10 or 20 times that amount for maximum acceleration to 60 mph or higher.

The fuel cell in the Toyota Mirai, the best-selling hydrogen car in the U.S., is rated at 90 kW (120 horsepower). However, this is not enough to accelerate onto a fast-moving highway, so Toyota (as do other HFCV makers) adds in a high-voltage low-capacity battery, very similar to those used in gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles.

The amount of energy stored onboard is determined by the size of the hydrogen fuel tank. During the vehicle design process, the vehicle manufacturer defines the power of the vehicle by the size of the electric motor(s) that receives electric power from the appropriately sized fuel cell and battery combination.

Fuel cell cars are powered by compressed hydrogen gas that feeds into an onboard fuel cell stack that doesn’t burn the gas, but instead transforms the fuel’s chemical energy into electrical energy. This electricity then powers the car’s electric motors. Tailpipe emissions are zero, and the only waste produced is pure water.

Power demands in the average car vary by an order of magnitude

The power demands in the average car vary by an order of magnitude, from 15 kilowatts (20 horsepower) to keep a vehicle at a steady highway speed on a flat road to perhaps 10 or 20 times that amount for maximum acceleration to 60 mph or higher. The fuel cell in the Toyota Mirai, the best-selling hydrogen car in the U.S., is rated at 90 kW (120 horsepower). But that's not enough to accelerate onto a fast-moving highway, so Toyota (as do other HFCV makers) adds in a high-voltage low-capacity battery, very similar to those used in gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles.

Fuel cell electric cars are powered by the most abundant element in the universe: hydrogen. Although a fuel cell car runs on electricity, it does so differently than battery-powered or plug-in hybrid cars. In a fuel cell, hydrogen reacts electrochemically to produce electricity to power the car. Fuel cell cars are powered by compressed hydrogen gas that feeds into an onboard fuel cell stack that doesn’t burn the gas, but instead transforms the fuel’s chemical energy into electrical energy. This electricity then powers the car’s electric motors. Tailpipe emissions are zero, and the only waste produced is pure water.

During the vehicle design process, the vehicle manufacturer defines the power of the vehicle by the size of the electric motor(s) that receives electric power from the appropriately sized fuel cell and battery combination. Although automakers could design an FCEV with plug-in capabilities to charge the battery, most FCEVs today use the battery for recapturing braking energy, providing extra power during short acceleration events, and to smooth out the power delivered from the fuel cell with the option to idle or turn off the fuel cell during low power needs. The amount of energy stored onboard is determined by the size of the hydrogen fuel tank.

The challenge for automotive engineers is that hydrogen fuel cells are happiest at a steady power output. That’s what makes them suitable for backup power use, for instance. Fuel cells can help airplanes reduce CO2 and other pollutant emissions and noise. The world's first Fuel Cell Boat HYDRA used an AFC system with 6.5 kW net output. For each liter of fuel consumed, the average outboard motor produces 140 times less the hydrocarbons produced by the average modern car.

Battery captures energy from regenerative braking and provides additional power

The electric motor in a fuel cell car is powered by the energy produced in the fuel cell stack. The fuel cell stack is an aggregate of numerous fuel cells that combine oxygen and hydrogen to generate electricity. The electric motor then powers the car using this electricity.

The battery in a fuel cell car captures energy from regenerative braking and provides additional power to the electric motor. This additional power is provided during short acceleration events and to smooth out the power delivered from the fuel cell with the option to idle or turn off the fuel cell during low power needs.

The power demands in the average car vary by an order of magnitude, from something like 15 kilowatts (20 horsepower) to keep a vehicle at a steady highway speed on a flat road to perhaps 10 or 20 times that amount for maximum acceleration to 60 mph or higher. The fuel cell in the Toyota Mirai, the best-selling hydrogen car in the U.S., is rated at 90 kW (120 horsepower).

The amount of energy stored onboard is determined by the size of the hydrogen fuel tank. The vehicle manufacturer defines the power of the vehicle by the size of the electric motor(s) that receives electric power from the appropriately sized fuel cell and battery combination.

Tailpipe emissions are zero and the only waste produced is pure water

Fuel cell cars are powered by compressed hydrogen gas that feeds into an onboard fuel cell stack that transforms the fuel’s chemical energy into electrical energy. This electricity then powers the car’s electric motors. Tailpipe emissions are zero, and the only waste produced is pure water.

The fuel cell stack is an aggregate of numerous fuel cells that combine oxygen and hydrogen to generate electricity and power the electric motor. Hydrogen gas is stored in carbon-fiber reinforced tanks to provide fuel to the fuel-cell stack. The electric motor powers the car using energy produced in the fuel cell stack.

The fuel cell stack reacts electrochemically to produce electricity to power the car. The byproduct of the reaction occurring in the fuel cell stack is water vapor, which is emitted through the exhaust.

The amount of energy stored onboard is determined by the size of the hydrogen fuel tank. The vehicle manufacturer defines the power of the vehicle by the size of the electric motor(s) that receives electric power from the appropriately sized fuel cell and battery combination.

Battery smooths out the power delivered from the fuel cell

Fuel cell electric cars are powered by hydrogen, which reacts electrochemically to produce electricity to power the car. The power demands in the average car vary by an order of magnitude, from 15 kilowatts (20 horsepower) to keep a vehicle at a steady highway speed on a flat road to perhaps 10 or 20 times that amount for maximum acceleration to 60 mph or higher. The fuel cell in the Toyota Mirai, the best-selling hydrogen car in the U.S., is rated at 90 kW (120 horsepower).

The fuel cell stack transforms the fuel’s chemical energy into electrical energy, which then powers the car’s electric motors. The electric motor powers the car using energy produced in the fuel cell stack. The battery captures energy from regenerative braking and provides additional power to the electric motor. The amount of energy stored onboard is determined by the size of the hydrogen fuel tank.

The vehicle manufacturer defines the power of the vehicle by the size of the electric motor(s) that receives electric power from the appropriately sized fuel cell and battery combination. The fuel cell car can idle or turn off the fuel cell during low power needs.

The power delivered from the fuel cell is smoothened out by the battery, which recaptures braking energy and provides extra power during short acceleration events. The fuel cell is happiest at a steady power output, which is why it is suitable for backup power use. The power demands in the average car vary by an order of magnitude, which is why the battery is necessary.

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