Hybrid Fuel Cell Systems for Motive Applications – Clean Power on 2 Wheels, 4 Wheels and in the Air

Over the past twelve months Intelligent Energy and it’s partners have has demonstrated a number of advanced fuel cell hybrid power systems. These include the worlds first manned fuel cell powered aircraft with Boeing, a hybrid fuel cell vehicle, the H2Origin, developed with PSA Peugeot Citroën and the Suzuki “crosscage” fuel cell motorcycle.

The aircraft system uses a hybrid configuration to provide 50kW for takeoff and approximately 15kW for level flight. At peak power, during take-off, approximately 50% of the power comes from the fuel cell system with the remainder coming from the lithium batteries. Intelligent Energy had to develop a very compact fuel cell system for the aircraft as it was a requirement that the fuel cell system and drive motor fit within the limited available space previously taken by the 70hp Rotax I.C.E.

For the H2Origin vehicle, the integration was carried out by PSA Peugeot Citroën who fitted the Intelligent Energy fuel cell system under the hood of the Peugeot Partner electric vehicle. PSA developed a novel hydrogen storage system in the form of exchangeable swap racks in the rear of the vehicle. The range of this vehicle is approximately 300km.

The “crosscage” motorcycle was designed by Suzuki and Intelligent Energy to flexibly utilise the variable power configurations obtainable from a simple, compact and light weight air cooled fuel cell system and a Li-ion battery. The “crosscage” was unveiled at the 2007 motor show and building upon this success Intelligent Energy and Suzuki have extended their collaboration for the further development of fuel cell powered motorcycles.