The first application for which the fuel cell will find a market in the automotive sector - even at a price per kilowatt 10 times higher than for propulsion systems - is as an 'electrochemical battery' serving the purpose the fuel cell can do best: To generate electricity for the electrical power bus at a high degree of efficiency. Such a fuel cell referred to as an APU (auxiliary power unit) exceeds the power output and endurance of a battery and is able not only to supply power to all conventional electrical power-consuming items in the car but also to provide new functions such as air conditioning when the car is at a standstill. The SOFC (solid oxide fuel cell) has been selected as a key technology using conventional gasoline ensuring that in principle every car running on the road could use a fuel cell instead of an alternator. Operation of such a system independently of the engine itself does not only offer opportunities for new electric functions, but may provide a further potential for reducing fuel consumption without having to renounce the benefits of the versatile combustion engine.
Fuel cell auxiliary power unit - innovation for the electric supply of passenger cars?
Brennstoffzellen-Hifsaggregat (APU) - eine Innovation für die Elektrizitätsversorgung in PKWs ?
2000
9 Seiten, 15 Bilder, 1 Tabelle, 14 Quellen
Conference paper
English
Fuel Cell Auxiliary Power Unit - Innovation for the Electric Supply of Passenger Cars ?
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