A stack current controller may be configured to determine a stack current request based on a state of charge of a battery, an error based on a difference between an actual coolant temperature and a coolant temperature setpoint, or both. A plurality of stack current levels may be implemented corresponding to different battery state-of-charge thresholds. The determined stack current magnitude may be the lowest current magnitude that provides sufficient heat to maintain a coolant temperature at the coolant temperature setpoint or within the coolant temperature threshold. The determined stack current magnitude may be the highest current magnitude that provides sufficient power while maintaining a coolant temperature at the coolant temperature setpoint or within the coolant temperature threshold.

A fuel cell system includes fuel cell, an electrical storage device that stores electric power generated by the fuel cell, and a control device that controls generation of power by the fuel cell, that acquires a charging rate of the electrical storage device, when the electric power in the electrical storage device is supplied to external devices, the control device performs first control which increases a charging rate of the electrical storage device and second control which restricts a power generation amount of the fuel cell to be smaller than in the first control and decreases a charging rate of the electrical storage device, and when a temperature detected by the temperature sensor is lower than a predetermined temperature, a power generation amount per hour of the fuel cell in the first control is reduced in comparison when the detected temperature is equal to or greater than the predetermined temperature.

The control device is provided with a power generation part configured to be able to selectively perform normal power generation and low efficiency power generation in which the power generation loss is greater compared with normal power generation when there is a request for warmup of the fuel cell. The power generation part temporarily stops the low efficiency power generation and performs normal power generation when during performance of the low efficiency power generation the target generated electric power of the fuel cell becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined first switching electric power.

A temperature control apparatus and method for fuel cell system, where the apparatus includes a fuel cell stack, a first pump disposed on a first cooling line, a first radiator disposed on the first cooling line, power electronic parts, a second pump disposed on a second cooling line, a second radiator disposed on the second cooling line, a cooling fan configured to blow exterior air to any one of the first radiator and the second radiator, and a controller configured to determine an RPM of the cooling fan based on a coolant temperature at an inlet of the fuel cell stack and a first exterior air temperature, to determine a target cooling performance of the plurality of power electronic parts based on power consumptions of the plurality of power electronic parts, and to determine an RPM of the second pump based on the target cooling performance of the plurality of power electronic parts, the RPM of the cooling fan, and a second exterior air temperature.

A system for reducing overdraw of power in a vehicle includes a power source having a battery and a fuel cell circuit. The system further includes an ECU that transmits a power limit signal to a vehicle controller, the power limit signal corresponding to an instantaneous maximum amount of power of the power source. The ECU also determines a battery allowed power corresponding to an amount of power available to be drawn from the battery to cause the SOC of the battery to remain above a lower SOC threshold. The ECU also determines a current battery power draw from the battery corresponding to an instantaneous amount of power being drawn from the battery. The ECU is designed to reduce the instantaneous maximum amount of power in the power limit signal when the current battery power draw is greater than the battery allowed power, reducing the current battery power draw.

A rational fuel-cell power following strategy is made according to values such as vehicle fuel-cell power, battery power, and SOC (state of charge) of a lithium-ion battery; in the same time window, effects of different fuel-cell power growth rates on SOC of the lithium-ion battery are tested according to vehicle requirements; and at the same fuel-cell growth rate, effects of different time windows on SOC of the lithium-ion battery are tested according to vehicle requirements; a proper time window and a proper fuel-cell power change rate are found, so that the SOC value of the lithium-ion battery fluctuates within a certain range. The present invention can achieve a good operation mode of power distribution between the fuel cell and the lithium-ion battery, ensuring rational utilization of resources, thereby extending the application range of the lithium-ion battery to the maximum extent.

An operation controller of a fuel cell and an operation control method thereof in a system for generating a drive output through a fuel cell and a battery includes a processor for selectively performing a driving stop control of the fuel cell through an operation variable including a required drive output and a load weight.

A fuel cell system configured to supply electric power to load includes: a fuel cell; and a control unit configured to set target electric power to be generated by the fuel cell and control electric power generation by the fuel cell such that the fuel cell generates the target electric power. The control unit is configured to, when setting the target electric power using request electric power that the load requests the fuel cell to generate, execute a fluctuation suppression process for making a fluctuation of the target electric power smaller than a fluctuation of the request electric power.

An FCV includes: a driving device that generates traveling power by using at least one of electric power output from an FC system and electric power output from a battery; and a display device that presents a first indicator and a second indicator, the first indicator indicating a remaining amount of electric power to be output from the FC system, the second indicator indicating a remaining amount of electric power to be output from the battery. An amount of electric power that can be output from the FC system when the hydrogen tank is full is larger than an amount of electric power that can be output from the battery when the battery is fully charged. A presentation area of the first indicator is larger than a presentation area of the second indicator.

Methods and systems for an electric vehicle (EV) propulsion are provided. A method for operating an EV propulsion system is provided, in one example, that includes, while a traction battery assembly generates electric power, initiating start-up of a hydrogen fuel cell assembly based on a first battery state of charge (SOC) threshold and a first hydrogen fuel storage threshold to transition into a hybrid mode of operation. In the propulsion system, the traction battery assembly includes one or more traction batteries that are electrically coupled to one or more hydrogen fuel cells in the hydrogen fuel cell assembly via a distribution assembly, where the distribution assembly is electrically coupled to a traction motor.