KERS technology coupled with fuel cell to power city bus with solarhydrogen energy cycle

Reported here the application and design of a hydrogen fuel cell hybridized with a kinetic energy recover system for powering a city bus based on in-wheel electric traction motors and on “zero emission” energy cycle. A bus, with 25 passengers of carrying capacity, run over the European urban standard drive cycle with different road slopes is considered and simulated. Powertrain components are measured for reducing the fuel consumption and for overcoming the use of chemical batteries for traction. The energy balance between the traction consumption per a bus yearly travel and the electrical energy produced by photovoltaic devices used for hydrogen production by electrolysis is performed. The results are discussed also in terms of CO2 emissions.