Ulrich Eberle

Chemical and Physical Solutions for Hydrogen Storage

Hydrogen is a promising energy carrier in future energy systems. However, storage of hydrogen is a substantial challenge, especially for applications in vehicles with fuel cells that use proton-exchange membranes (PEMs). Different methods for hydrogen storage are discussed, including high-pressure and cryogenic-liquid storage, adsorptive storage on high-surface-area adsorbents, chemical storage in metal hydrides and complex hydrides, and storage in boranes. For the latter chemical solutions, reversible options and hydrolytic release of hydrogen with off-board regeneration are both possible. Reforming of liquid hydrogen-containing compounds is also a possible means of hydrogen generation. The advantages and disadvantages of the different systems are compared.

Sustainable transportation based on electric vehicle concepts: a brief overview

The energy storage system is of decisive importance for all types of electric vehicles, in contrast to the case of vehicles powered by a conventional fossil fuel or bio-fuel based internal combustion engine. Two major alternatives exist and need to be discussed: on the one hand, there is the possibility of electrical energy storage using batteries, whilst on the other hand there is the storage of energy in chemical form as hydrogen and the application of a fuel cell as energy converter. The advantages and limitations, and also the impact of both options are described. To do so, existing GM concept vehicles and mass production vehicles are presented. Eventually, an outlook is given that addresses cost targets and infrastructure opportunities as well as requirements.

Fuel cell electric vehicles and hydrogen infrastructure: status 2012

Automotive fuel cell systems have made huge progress over the last few years; recent developments concerning hydrogen vehicle technology and infrastructure are presented.

The Voltec System—Energy Storage and Electric Propulsion

Abstract Car electrification is progressing significantly and is changing the architecture of future vehicles. This trend is a result of the need for higher vehicle efficiency and the desire to diversify the energy sources used for transportation. Voltec vehicles such as the Chevrolet Volt and Opel Ampera are electric vehicles (EVs) with extended driving range. They operate as an EV as long as there is usable energy left in the battery. However, unlike a pure battery EV, they do not suffer from any mobility restrictions when the battery is depleted. Volt and Ampera can continue operation by using an internal combustion engine as energy converter. Within the framework of this chapter, in addition to the focus on the current Voltec battery and propulsion system technologies, a brief history of the General Motors EV activities is also provided.

Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles, Battery Electric Vehicles, and their Impact on Energy Storage Technologies: An Overview

This chapter focuses on the energy storage technologies in cell electric vehicles and battery electric vehicles and discusses the latest vehicle projects like the GM HydroGen4 and the Chevrolet Volt as well as the respective VOLTEC powertrain system. There are two major options of energy storage systems in electric vehicles (EVs), which include one where the storage of electrical energy is done by using batteries and the other where the storage of energy is in the form of hydrogen. The Volt is an EV equipped with an additional gasoline engine that is used to extend the vehicle range beyond the electric range when required (E-REV). The main energy storage in the Volt is a Li–ion battery with a nominal energy content of 16 kWh and a pure battery-electric range of 60 km. This leads to reduced fuel consumption, reduced emissions, and also to increased energy security via geographic diversification of the available energy sources. The ultimate objective of the GM strategy is to produce zero-emission vehicles that use an electric powertrain system based on hydrogen fuel cells or purely battery–electric systems and that are also fully competitive to conventional vehicles with regards to performance and ease-of-use. E-REVs such as the Chevrolet Volt or the Opel Ampera are perfectly suited for people who may have to cover longer ranges of up to 500 km and for those who are willing to accept a small ICE in order to ensure the range beyond the initial 60 km of pure EV operation. On the other hand, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are always operated as zero-emission vehicles that can be refueled within 3–5 min, and offer a long range of about 500 km at full performance, even for family-sized cars.

Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles, Battery Electric Vehicles, and their Impact on Energy Storage Technologies

This chapter focuses on the energy storage technologies in cell electric vehicles and battery electric vehicles and discusses the latest vehicle projects like the GM HydroGen4 and the Chevrolet Volt as well as the respective VOLTEC powertrain system. There are two major options of energy storage systems in electric vehicles (EVs), which include one where the storage of electrical energy is done by using batteries and the other where the storage of energy is in the form of hydrogen. The Volt is an EV equipped with an additional gasoline engine that is used to extend the vehicle range beyond the electric range when required (E-REV). The main energy storage in the Volt is a Li–ion battery with a nominal energy content of 16 kWh and a pure battery-electric range of 60 km. This leads to reduced fuel consumption, reduced emissions, and also to increased energy security via geographic diversification of the available energy sources. The ultimate objective of the GM strategy is to produce zero-emission vehicles that use an electric powertrain system based on hydrogen fuel cells or purely battery–electric systems and that are also fully competitive to conventional vehicles with regards to performance and ease-of-use. E-REVs such as the Chevrolet Volt or the Opel Ampera are perfectly suited for people who may have to cover longer ranges of up to 500 km and for those who are willing to accept a small ICE in order to ensure the range beyond the initial 60 km of pure EV operation. On the other hand, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are always operated as zero-emission vehicles that can be refueled within 3–5 min, and offer a long range of about 500 km at full performance, even for family-sized cars.

Efficient Splitting of Test and Simulation Cases for the Verification of Highly Automated Driving Functions

We address the question of feasibility of tests to verify highly automated driving functions by optimizing the trade-off between virtual tests for verifying safety properties and physical tests for validating the models used for such verification. We follow a quantitative approach based on a probabilistic treatment of the different quantities in question. That is, we quantify the accuracy of a model in terms of its probabilistic prediction ability. Similarly, we quantify the compliance of a system with its requirements in terms of the probability of satisfying these requirements. Depending on the costs of an individual virtual and physical test we are then able to calculate an optimal trade-off between physical and virtual tests, yet guaranteeing a probability of satisfying all requirements.

CHAPTER NINE – Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles, Battery Electric Vehicles, and their Impact on Energy Storage Technologies: An Overview

This chapter focuses on the energy storage technologies in cell electric vehicles and battery electric vehicles and discusses the latest vehicle projects like the GM HydroGen4 and the Chevrolet Volt as well as the respective VOLTEC powertrain system. There are two major options of energy storage systems in electric vehicles (EVs), which include one where the storage of electrical energy is done by using batteries and the other where the storage of energy is in the form of hydrogen. The Volt is an EV equipped with an additional gasoline engine that is used to extend the vehicle range beyond the electric range when required (E-REV). The main energy storage in the Volt is a Li–ion battery with a nominal energy content of 16 kWh and a pure battery-electric range of 60 km. This leads to reduced fuel consumption, reduced emissions, and also to increased energy security via geographic diversification of the available energy sources. The ultimate objective of the GM strategy is to produce zero-emission vehicles that use an electric powertrain system based on hydrogen fuel cells or purely battery–electric systems and that are also fully competitive to conventional vehicles with regards to performance and ease-of-use. E-REVs such as the Chevrolet Volt or the Opel Ampera are perfectly suited for people who may have to cover longer ranges of up to 500 km and for those who are willing to accept a small ICE in order to ensure the range beyond the initial 60 km of pure EV operation. On the other hand, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are always operated as zero-emission vehicles that can be refueled within 3–5 min, and offer a long range of about 500 km at full performance, even for family-sized cars.