Research on Fuel Cell Vehicle Performance Based on PEMFC Stack Degradation

The degradation of vehicle performance resulting from powertrain degradation throughout the lifecycle of alternative energy vehicles (AEVs) has consistently been a focal issue among scholars and consumers. The purpose of this paper is to utilize a one-dimensional vehicle simulation model to analyze the changes in power performance and economy of fuel cell vehicles as the Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) stack degrades. In this study, a simulation model was developed based on the design parameters and vehicle architecture of a 45kW fuel cell vehicle. The 1D model was validated for accuracy using experimental data. The results indicate that as the stack performance degrades, the attenuation rate of the fuel cell engine is further amplified, with a degradation of up to 13.6% in the system's peak output power at the End of Life (EOL) state after 5000 hours. Furthermore, the level of economic performance degradation of the complete vehicle in the EOL state is dependent on the driving cycle, with higher hydrogen consumption attenuation observed under aggressive driving conditions.