This PEM hydrogen fuel cell power unit in an engine-shaped format serves passenger cars and light commercial vehicles as a drop-in replacement for an internal combustion engine. It delivers 110 kW peak power and weighs 240 kg.
The IE-DRIVE 100 PEM hydrogen fuel cell system is a fuel cell power unit from Intelligent Energy for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. It is packaged in a compact, engine-shaped format, and the fuel cell module and its supporting systems are designed as a drop-in replacement for a traditional internal combustion engine. A vehicle maker can therefore move to a zero-emission powertrain with minimal disruption to the existing vehicle architecture.
The system is a hydrogen-fueled PEM fuel cell power unit with a design package for a front-wheel-drive automotive requirement, intended for multi-sample design validation in small fleet and test conditions. Its architecture includes the fuel cell stack, low-pressure hydrogen management, an air compressor module, an internal de-ionized water module, a condenser and a control system. The stack is Intelligent Energy's proprietary evaporatively cooled design built from metallic plates.
Peak net power output is 110 kW, reached at maximum current and minimum voltage, which defines the upper limit of the electrical load the powertrain can draw from the system. Rated net power output is 65 kW, the figure that applies to sustained operation, with a rated current of 283 A at end of life. As the stack ages, the rated operating point moves toward higher current and lower voltage, so cabling, contactors and power electronics should be sized for the end-of-life case. The output voltage range is 210–360 V DC.
Mass is 240 kg for the complete system excluding the condenser and the DC-DC converter. The product page also notes that the heat exchanger and exhaust are not included, so packaging studies and weight budgets should add these items. The nominal ambient operating temperature range is given in the specifications, and the manufacturer also states derated operation at wider ambient extremes, so cold and hot climate duty should be checked against the datasheet. The manufacturer states that range is extended and subject to tank size.
The one-box modular design is meant to make installation into production or retrofitted vehicles as straightforward as possible. The system is scalable, and OEMs can tailor it to different vehicle classes and configurations.
No certifications or standards are listed for the system in the manufacturer's published product information. Integrators should confirm the applicable approvals with the manufacturer for their vehicle program.
Typical applications are passenger vehicles and light commercial vehicles, including urban delivery vans and fleet vehicles, where space is limited but performance cannot be compromised. The full product specification is given in the manufacturer datasheet.
Specifications
Specifications · IE-DRIVE 100 PEM hydrogen fuel cell system
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