Fuel cell-based hybrid electric vehicles: An integrated review of current status, key challenges, recommended policies, and future prospects

Abstract

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), whose exhaust pipes emit nothing, are examples of zero-emission automobiles. FCEVs should be considered an additional technology that will help battery-powered vehicles to reach the aspirational goal of zero-emissions electric mobility, particularly in situations where the customers demand for longer driving ranges and where using batteries would be insufficient due to bulky battery trays and time-consuming recharging. This study stipulates a current evaluation of the status of development and challenges related to (i) research gap to promote fuel-cell based HEVs; (ii) key barriers of fuel-cell based HEVs; (iii) advancement of electric mobility and their power drive; (iv) electrochemistry of fuel cell technology for FCEVs; (v) power transformation topologies, communication protocols, and advanced charging methods; (vi) recommendations and future prospects of fuel-cell HEVs; and (vii) current research trends of EVs, and FCEVs. This article discusses key challenges with fuel cell electric mobility, such as low fuel cell performance, cold starts, problems with hydrogen storage, cost-reduction, safety concerns, and traction systems. The operating characteristics and applications of several fuel-cell technologies are investigated for FCEVs and FCHEVs. An overview of the fuel cell is provided, which serves as the primary source of energy for FCHEVs, along with comparisons and its electrochemistry. The study of power transformation topologies, communication protocols, and enhanced charging techniques for FCHEVs has been studied analytically. Recent technology advancements and the prospects for FCHEVs are discussed in order to influence the future vehicle market and to attain the aim of zero emissions.