Economic influence of prolonging fuel cell stack lifetime of fuel cell hybrid vehicles based on optimal control theory

In order to consider the lifetime of fuel cell stacks when minimizing the fuel consumption in fuel cell hybrid vehicles (FCHV), a Pontryagin´s Minimum Principle (PMP)-based power management strategy is proposed in this research. This strategy has the effect of prolonging the lifetime of fuel cell stacks. However, there is a tradeoff between the lifetime of the fuel cell stack and the fuel consumption when this strategy is applied to an FCHV. Verifying the positive economic influence of this strategy is necessary in order to demonstrate its effectiveness. In this research, the economic influence is analyzed and determined based on the fuel cell stack cost, the hydrogen cost, the fuel cell stack lifetime, and the lifetime prolonging impact on the fuel cell stack. Simulation results derived from the PMP-based power management strategy are also used to determine the economic influence. As a result, the positive economic influence of the PMP-based power management strategy is proved for both current and future FCHVs.