Abstract: A vehicle system which includes: an electric power control unit causes a power generation device to continue to generate electric power when the derived remaining amount of a fuel is smaller than a first threshold value or when a traveling distance calculated on the basis of the remaining amount of a fuel is smaller than a second threshold value and the output control unit calculates a second traveling distance that a vehicle is able to travel on the basis of the derived amount of charge or charge rate and causes an output unit to output information associated with the second traveling distance.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack, a method of operating a fuel cell stack and a fuel cell system. In one particular form, shutting down the stack upon detection of a leakage of fuel either within the stack or from the stack involves depressurizing and uniform consumption of hydrogen by catalytic consumption in the cathode of all cells. Upon consumption of oxygen in the cathode portion of the stack by chemical reaction, the remaining unreacted nitrogen from the air acts as an inerting fluid. After an indication of reaction cessation is established, at least some of the inerting fluid is conveyed from the cathode portion to the anode portion. One or more of a bleed valve, backpressure valve and bypass valve are manipulated to promote the anode portion depressurization, cathode portion inerting and subsequent conveyance of the inerting fluid to the stack anode portion.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack, a method of operating a fuel cell stack and a fuel cell system. In one particular form, shutting down the stack upon detection of a leakage of fuel either within the stack or from the stack involves depressurizing and uniform consumption of hydrogen by catalytic consumption in the cathode of all cells. Upon consumption of oxygen in the cathode portion of the stack by chemical reaction, the remaining unreacted nitrogen from the air acts as an inerting fluid. After an indication of reaction cessation is established, at least some of the inerting fluid is conveyed from the cathode portion to the anode portion. One or more of a bleed valve, backpressure valve and bypass valve are manipulated to promote the anode portion depressurization, cathode portion inerting and subsequent conveyance of the inerting fluid to the stack anode portion.

Abstract: An electric motor is coupled to driving wheels 2, 2. When a slippage of the driving wheels 2, 2 is detected, the electric motor 5 produces a regenerative torque to suppress the slippage of the driving wheels 2, 2. The regenerative torque is controlled in a variable manner according to an index parameter that indicates a road surface condition. Thus, when the slippage of the driving wheels occurs, the slippage of the driving wheels is suppressed according to the road surface condition by a regenerative operation of the electric motor coupled to the driving wheels.

Abstract: A management ECU of a control unit predicts the reduction degree of a system voltage according to an operational state of a motor based on the temperature of a fuel cell and a number of rotations of the motor, sets motor output restriction start voltage and motor output restriction end voltage which are threshold values of the system voltage for triggering an execution start and an execution end of a processing to restrict an output of the motor, and outputs them to a motor ECU. The motor ECU sets an output restriction coefficient that is a restriction rate in restricting the output of the motor based on a detected value of the system voltage and the motor output restriction start voltage and the motor output restriction end voltage, and restricts the output of the motor.

Abstract: An electric motor is coupled to driving wheels 2, 2. When a slippage of the driving wheels 2, 2 is detected, the electric motor 5 produces a regenerative torque to suppress the slippage of the driving wheels 2, 2. The regenerative torque is controlled in a variable manner according to an index parameter that indicates a road surface condition. Thus, when the slippage of the driving wheels occurs, the slippage of the driving wheels is suppressed according to the road surface condition by a regenerative operation of the electric motor coupled to the driving wheels.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a fuel cell vehicle includes: a motor for driving the fuel cell vehicle; a motor control unit controlling driving and regenerative operations of the motor; a traction control unit suppressing slippage of drive wheels by controlling a driving force acting between tires and a road surface; a fuel cell generating electricity through electrochemical reaction by being supplied with reactant gases by a reactant gas supply unit and supplies electrical power to the motor; an electrical storage apparatus charged by power generated by the fuel cell and power regenerated by the motor; an output control unit controlling the output of the fuel cell; and a control unit controlling power consumption of the motor in advance of a change in a supply state of the reactant gases to the fuel cell due to execution of driving force control by the traction control unit.

Abstract: A control apparatus for an electrically-powered vehicle that includes an electrical motor, a motor control unit, and a traction control unit that controls a drive force so as to suppress spinning of driving wheels based on an operation request, includes: a driver requesting torque calculation unit that calculates a driver requesting torque; a traction requesting torque calculation unit that calculates a traction requesting torque; a torque command calculation unit that calculates a torque command based on the operation request, the driver requesting torque, and the traction requesting torque, during execution of the drive force control by the traction control unit; and a revolution rate sensor, wherein the torque command calculation unit is adapted to set the torque command to a value greater than zero regardless of the operation request when the revolution rate of the electrical motor is less than or equal to a predetermined value.

Abstract: The present invention intends to provide a control device for a fuel cell vehicle which suppresses the deterioration of driveability upon acceleration without increasing the size of a driving electric motor or a motor driver. When a requested output (PD_CAL) exceeds a first output limit determined depending on a continuous output rating of an electric motor 10 or a motor driver 5 and an increasing rate of the requested output (PD_CAL) exceeds a reference increasing rate, an upper-limit target output determining unit 52 determines an assist time used as a time during which the electric motor 10 can be operated continuously by the requested output (PD_CAL) on the basis of the requested output (PD_CAL) and an open-circuit voltage (Vbat_o) of a battery 3. Until the assist time is elapsed, the upper-limit target output (PD_LMT) is set to a second output limit (>the first output limit) determined depending on a short-time output rating of the electric motor 10 or the motor driver 5.

Abstract: The present invention intends to provide a control device for a fuel cell vehicle which suppresses the deterioration of driveability upon acceleration without increasing the size of a driving electric motor or a motor driver. When a requested output (PD_CAL) exceeds a first output limit determined depending on a continuous output rating of an electric motor 10 or a motor driver 5 and an increasing rate of the requested output (PD_CAL) exceeds a reference increasing rate, an upper-limit target output determining unit 52 determines an assist time used as a time during which the electric motor 10 can be operated continuously by the requested output (PD_CAL) on the basis of the requested output (PD_CAL) and an open-circuit voltage (Vbat_o) of a battery 3. Until the assist time is elapsed, the upper-limit target output (PD_LMT) is set to a second output limit (>the first output limit) determined depending on a short-time output rating of the electric motor 10 or the motor driver 5.

Abstract: A control apparatus for an electrically-powered vehicle that includes an electrical motor, a motor control unit, and a traction control unit that controls a drive force so as to suppress spinning of driving wheels based on an operation request, includes: a driver requesting torque calculation unit that calculates a driver requesting torque; a traction requesting torque calculation unit that calculates a traction requesting torque; a torque command calculation unit that calculates a torque command based on the operation request, the driver requesting torque, and the traction requesting torque, during execution of the drive force control by the traction control unit; and a revolution rate sensor, wherein the torque command calculation unit is adapted to set the torque command to a value greater than zero regardless of the operation request when the revolution rate of the electrical motor is less than or equal to a predetermined value.

Abstract: The present invention intends to provide a control device for a fuel cell vehicle which suppresses the deterioration of driveability upon acceleration without increasing the size of a driving electric motor or a motor driver. When a requested output (PD_CAL) exceeds a first output limit determined depending on a continuous output rating of an electric motor 10 or a motor driver 5 and an increasing rate of the requested output (PD_CAL) exceeds a reference increasing rate, an upper-limit target output determining unit 52 determines an assist time used as a time during which the electric motor 10 can be operated continuously by the requested output (PD_CAL) on the basis of the requested output (PD_CAL) and an open-circuit voltage (Vcap_o) of a capacitor 3. Until the assist time is elapsed, the upper-limit target output (PD_LMT) is set to a second output limit (>the first output limit) determined depending on a short-time output rating of the electric motor 10 or the motor driver 5.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a fuel cell vehicle includes: a motor for driving the fuel cell vehicle; a motor control unit controlling driving and regenerative operations of the motor; a traction control unit suppressing slippage of drive wheels by controlling a driving force acting between tires and a road surface; a fuel cell generating electricity through electrochemical reaction by being supplied with reactant gases by a reactant gas supply unit and supplies electrical power to the motor; an electrical storage apparatus charged by power generated by the fuel cell and power regenerated by the motor; an output control unit controlling the output of the fuel cell; and a control unit controlling power consumption of the motor in advance of a change in a supply state of the reactant gases to the fuel cell due to execution of driving force control by the traction control unit.

Abstract: A management ECU of a control unit predicts the reduction degree of a system voltage according to an operational state of a motor based on the temperature of a fuel cell and a number of rotations of the motor, sets motor output restriction start voltage and motor output restriction end voltage which are threshold values of the system voltage for triggering an execution start and an execution end of a processing to restrict an output of the motor, and outputs them to a motor ECU. The motor ECU sets an output restriction coefficient that is a restriction rate in restricting the output of the motor based on a detected value of the system voltage and the motor output restriction start voltage and the motor output restriction end voltage, and restricts the output of the motor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for easily determining the specifications of a fuel cell and a capacitor constituting a fuel cell power generation system according to an operational mode of an electric load connected to the fuel cell power generation system and a fuel cell power generation system having its specification set using the method. The specifications of the fuel cell and the capacitor connected in parallel to the fuel cell are determined by meeting three requirements: the driving performance, the fuel economy, and the durability, in good balance.

Abstract: A method for easily determining the specifications of a fuel cell and a capacitor constituting a fuel cell power generation system according to an operational mode of an electric load connected to the fuel cell power generation system. The specifications of the fuel cell and the capacitor connected in parallel to the fuel cell are determined by a first step for determining a limit value di/dt_lmt of an increasing rate di/dt of an output current density per unit cell area of the fuel cell according to at least an operational mode of the electric load connected to the fuel cell system, a second step for determining an internal resistance Rfc of the fuel cell on the basis of a current-voltage (I-V) characteristic of the fuel cell based on the di/dt_lmt determined by the first step, and a third step for determining the internal resistance Rcap of the capacitor such that a characteristic value K calculated by weighted multiplication of Rfc determined by the second step and Rcap lies within the range of 0.

Abstract: An upper limit amount of discharged electric energy calculator calculates an upper limit amount of discharged electric energy (Pcap_LMT), which represents a discharged electric energy of a capacitor when the amount of electric energy discharged by a fuel cell stack is equal to an upper limit amount of electric energy (Ifc_LMT) generated by the fuel cell stack. An output limit electric energy calculator calculates an output limit electric energy (PLD), which represents an upper limit amount of the electric energy that can be outputted to a motor. A torque command determining unit determines a torque command (TRQ_CMD) such that the electric energy consumed by the motor and a motor driver will not exceed the output limit electric energy (PLD).

Abstract: Disclosed is a control device for a fuel cell vehicle which prevents that a fuel cell vehicle cannot run immediately after an abnormal condition of a fuel cell occurs. A current supply limiting unit 54 permits output current limiting means 30 to interrupt a current supplied from a fuel cell 2 to a capacitor 3 and a motor driver 5 when an upper limit amount of generated electric energy (Ifc_LMT) outputted from a fuel cell control unit 16 and indicative of an upper limit amount of electric energy generated by the fuel cell 2 is equal to a predetermined amount of generated electric energy or lower.

Abstract: Disclosed is a control device for a fuel cell vehicle which prevents that a fuel cell vehicle cannot run immediately after an abnormal condition of a fuel cell occurs. A current supply limiting unit 54 permits output current limiting means 30 to interrupt a current supplied from a fuel cell 2 to a capacitor 3 and a motor driver 5 when an upper limit amount of generated electric energy (Ifc_LMT) outputted from a fuel cell control unit 16 and indicative of an upper limit amount of electric energy generated by the fuel cell 2 is equal to a predetermined amount of generated electric energy or lower.

Abstract: An upper limit amount of discharged electric energy calculator 53 calculates an upper limit amount of discharged electric energy (Pcap_LMT), which represents a discharged electric energy of a capacitor 3 when the amount of electric energy discharged by a fuel cell stack 2 is equal to an upper limit amount of electric energy (Ifc_LMT) generated by the fuel cell stack 2, based on an open voltage (Vcap_o) across the capacitor 3 and the upper limit amount of generated electric energy (Ifc_LMT). An output limit electric energy calculator 54 calculates an output limit electric energy (PLD), which represents an upper limit amount of the electric energy that can be outputted to a motor 10, based on the upper limit amount of generated electric energy (Ifc_LMT), the upper limit amount of discharged electric energy (Pcap_LMT), and an electric energy (Pload) consumed by electric accessories.