Energy Partners developed, designed, built, and tested a 20 kWe automotive fuel cell stack, which was then used in Virginia Tech's 1999 Future Car Challenge hybrid electric vehicle.
Performance of the stack on a “state-of-the-art” test stand at Energy Partners is compared to data taken while the stack was in operation in the vehicle. Overall, the stack in the vehicle performed as expected. The difference in performance may be explained by different operating conditions.
System considerations, such as temperature, humidification, reactant stoichiometry, monitor and control software necessary for proper fuel cell operation, are presented and reviewed.