Benefits of Fuel Cell Range Extender for Medium-Duty Vehicle Applications

Hydrogen-powered vehicles have long shown great potential to displace fuel. However, due to the lack of infrastructure and the high cost of the components, the technology has not yet been introduced in the market. On the other hand, current battery electric vehicles (BEVs) also hold great promise, but their market penetration is limited due to their range. This study seeks to address the limitations of both technologies with regard to the medium-duty vehicle market by assessing the fuel displacement and cost–benefit potential of adding fuel cell systems to double the current range of BEVs. The addition of a fuel cell system will address drivers’ anxiety over the range of BEVs while minimizing the powertrain cost through optimized component sizing.