An apparatus including a computer, wherein the computer is specially programmed to process, and processes, information for or regarding a blockchain of a blockchain platform or network, and further wherein the computer processes information for processing a transaction on or involving the blockchain or processes information for creating or for mining a new block for, for adding to, or for inserting into, the blockchain, wherein the computer is located in, on, or at, a vehicle, a vehicle battery, wherein the vehicle battery supplies electrical power to the computer; and a cooling system, wherein the cooling system provides cooled air or liquid, on, at, or in the vicinity of, the computer, and further wherein the vehicle battery supplies electrical power to the cooling system.

A control method includes acquiring the operation stop request of the fuel cell system, acquiring a next vehicle operation start timing, and calculating a first energy cost and a second energy cost at a predetermined timing after acquiring the operation stop request and the next vehicle operation start timing. The first energy cost is an energy cost required from the predetermined timing to completion of warming up of the fuel cell when a warm-up control is executed using the heater in accordance with the next vehicle operation start timing after the stop control is executed. The second energy cost is an energy cost required when an operation of the fuel cell is continued so as to maintain a temperature of the fuel cell at a warm-up temperature from the predetermined timing to the next vehicle operation start timing. The control method includes continuing the operation of the fuel cell such that the temperature of the fuel cell is maintained at the warm-up temperature while the first energy cost is larger than the second energy cost after the operation stop request is acquired.

To provide a fuel cell system configured to charge a battery with maintaining the independence and redundancy of a fuel cell and a battery as power sources. A fuel cell system for air vehicles, wherein the fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell, a battery, a motor and a controller; wherein the fuel cell and the battery are connected to the motor as independent power sources, and the motor includes a double three-phase winding that uses a double inverter; and wherein, when normal output is requested from the motor, the controller operates the motor by a predetermined first output from the fuel cell, and the controller charges the battery by a torque generated in the motor.

To provide a fuel cell system configured to charge a battery with maintaining the independence and redundancy of a fuel cell and a battery as power sources. A fuel cell system for air vehicles, wherein the fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell, a battery, a motor and a controller; wherein the fuel cell and the battery are connected to the motor as independent power sources, and the motor includes a double three-phase winding that uses a double inverter; and wherein, when normal output is requested from the motor, the controller operates the motor by a predetermined first output from the fuel cell, and the controller charges the battery by a torque generated in the motor.

An apparatus for increasing an input voltage for an electric vehicle has an energy supply interface to a vehicle battery, a DC-DC converter and an inverter. The DC-DC converter has a first connection for connection to the energy supply interface and a second connection for connection to the inverter. The DC-DC converter is designed to supply an output voltage at the second connection in response to an amplifier signal, the output voltage being increased with respect to an input voltage applied to the first connection. The inverter has an inverter connection for connecting the inverter to the second connection and has at least one energization interface for energizing at least one unit coupled to the energization interface, the inverter converts a DC voltage applied to the inverter connection to an AC voltage and to supply same to the energization interface.

A network of an electric vehicle has an energy supply interface, an inverter, an energization interface and a soft starter. The inverter has a first inverter connection configured to connect the inverter to the energy supply interface and a second inverter connection configured to connect the inverter to the energization interface and the soft starter. The inverter is configured to convert a DC voltage applied to the first inverter connection to an AC voltage and to supply same at the second inverter connection. The soft starter is configured to reduce an input voltage applied to the first soft starter connection and to supply the operating voltage, which is reduced compared to the input voltage, at the second soft starter connection.

Applications of a natural gas reformer to mobile systems are described. A reformer with a plasma device is used to reform natural gas or light hydrocarbons to H2 and carbon. A vehicle includes the reformer, a natural gas reservoir, and a fuel cell. The fuel cell uses the H2 generated by the reformer to charge a battery in the vehicle or power an electric motor of the vehicle. Such systems are further used to distribute carbon, where carbon produced by the reformer is sorted to remove carbon black or nanostructure carbon, with each type of carbon compressed and or stored separately for use or commercialization. Such systems are further used to retrofit or otherwise reduce weight of electric vehicles (EV). Batteries installed in an EV are removed and replaced with a natural gas reservoir, reformer, and fuel cell, reducing the weight and improving efficiency of the EV.

Applications of a natural gas reformer to mobile systems are described. A reformer with a plasma device is used to reform natural gas or light hydrocarbons to H2 and carbon. A vehicle includes the reformer, a natural gas reservoir, and a fuel cell. The fuel cell uses the H2 generated by the reformer to charge a battery in the vehicle or power an electric motor of the vehicle. Such systems are further used to distribute carbon, where carbon produced by the reformer is sorted to remove carbon black or nanostructure carbon, with each type of carbon compressed and or stored separately for use or commercialization. Such systems are further used to retrofit or otherwise reduce weight of electric vehicles (EV). Batteries installed in an EV are removed and replaced with a natural gas reservoir, reformer, and fuel cell, reducing the weight and improving efficiency of the EV.

A braking control unit of a fuel cell vehicle is configured to, in a period during which the fuel cell vehicle is being braked in response to a braking request, (i) when an estimated amount of stagnant water is less than a predetermined second water amount less than a first water amount, limit an upper limit electric power of a regenerated electric power resulting from regenerative operation to a predetermined first value or below, and (ii) when the estimated amount of stagnant water is greater than or equal to the second water amount, execute an upper limit changing process of setting an upper limit electric power to a second value lower by a predetermined value than the first value.

A braking control unit of a fuel cell vehicle is configured to, in a period during which the fuel cell vehicle is being braked in response to a braking request, (i) when an estimated amount of stagnant water is less than a predetermined second water amount less than a first water amount, limit an upper limit electric power of a regenerated electric power resulting from regenerative operation to a predetermined first value or below, and (ii) when the estimated amount of stagnant water is greater than or equal to the second water amount, execute an upper limit changing process of setting an upper limit electric power to a second value lower by a predetermined value than the first value.