Introduction

The team will focus on the need for a new design for electric people transporters (i.e. wheel chairs, scooters, golf carts, etc.). The new design should overcome the conventional rechargeable lead-acid battery powered problems. It should be reliable and can answer the users and the technology concerns and challenges, such as: the ability to drive the vehicle for longer range (e.g. mileage) with the same power system without the need to recharge or refuel. The new design should also enable the power system to deliver instantaneous power for sudden acceleration and for additional power needed for vehicle auxiliaries.

These challenges can be addressed by utilizing a hybrid system combining: air-breathing proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell, a Li-ion battery with a novel thermal management system using phase change material (PCM), and a smart control system. The battery system will provide the required power during periods of peak demand: starting-up, acceleration, and sudden load changes. On the other hand, the fuel cell will provide the power during constant speed traveling or cursing. The inelegance control system will be used to handle all the power managements under different load conditions.

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