Concept Study of a Methanol Fuel Cell Vehicle

Starting with NECAR 1 in 1994 DaimlerChrysler has developed a series of fuel cell (FC) concept vehicles to prove the practicability of FC technology in mobile applications. Within the next two years the first buses (2003) and passenger cars (2004) will be given into customer hands indicating the start of a new phase within FC technology development.

Among DaimlerChrysler's concept vehicles, Necar 3 and Necar 5 are using methanol as fuel. Methanol is an interesting option, because its storing is much easier than the storage of pure hydrogen. In a rather simple process and at low temperature it can be reformed into a hydrogen rich gas.

This paper is dealing with the simulation and the design of methanol FC powertrains with Matlab/Simulink®. The results are fuel consumption with special regard to the operating strategy and the dimensioning of the FC powertrain's components.