Driving performance enhancement using PEM fuel cell in electric scooters

The usage of fossil fuels in urban transportation vehicles nowadays has a negative impact on the environment. The need for transportation vehicles powered by renewable energy sources is growing daily in an effort to reduce these impacts. Electric scooters (e-scooters), are a more advantageous mode of transportation than other vehicles because of their high energy efficiency, low emissions, lack of traffic congestion, time savings, ease of parking, and affordability. Research aimed at improving the efficiency of e-scooters, which are becoming common in modern urban areas, is extremely significant. Our goal in conducting this study was to find solutions for the issues that come with electric scooters, like their short driving range, lengthy charging times, and short battery life. In order to do this, a simulation model of a scooter was developed that substitutes in electric scooter's fuel cell—the energy source of the future—for the battery. In addition, regenerative braking has been added to the scooter model by taking power from the battery. In an effort to inspire further study on this topic, the dynamic behaviors of the two models are compared for the first time in relation to long-term driving cycle conditions. WMTC, ECE15 and ARTEMIS Urban driving cycles were preferred, in order to increase driving performance in the simulation. The scooter models' performances were compared during these driving cycles, and the outcomes were assessed. Based on the outcomes of three distinct driving cycles, it can be observed that a fuel cell-powered scooter offers a range improvement of more than 120% when compared to a battery-powered scooter. In addition, the fuel cell has negative features such as low power density and slow power response compared to internal combustion engines. This drawback can be eliminated with lithium-ion batteries with high power density. Another model consisting of fuel cell/battery integration that will eliminate the negative effects occurring in the battery and fuel cell and which promises importance for the future has been proposed for this study. Additionally, an energy management system is used to control resources. With this system, the system behaviors that occur when the power sources are used separately and together in the scooter are examined comparatively.