Fuel cell electric vehicle and a fuel cell system box

• US 6,874,588 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2002
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Anazawa, Makoto, Fujimoto, Sachito, Hatano, Harumi, Shimizu, Kiyoshi, Kato, Takashi, Ogawa, Takayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Restifo, Jeff
• Application Number:
  US10/256,459
• Publication Number:
  US 20030062204A1
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.1, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/68.5, 429/26
• US Class Current: 429/413
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/005 the electric storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/71 Arrangement of fuel cells within vehicles specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/72 Constructional details of fuel cells specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/33 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 43/10 Engines or plants characterised by use of other specific gases, e.g. acetylene, oxyhydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04201 Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

The vehicle M which is a fuel cell loading type electric vehicle includes a fuel cell 30, thermoregulator 20 to adjust the temperature of the fuel cell 30; humidifier 40 to supply moisture to the fuel cell; and the high-pressure hydrogen containers 14 and 14, which is filled up with hydrogen. The thermoregulator 20, a fuel cell 30, the humidifier 40, and the high-pressure hydrogen containers 14 and 14 are disposed covering from the front position to the back position of the vehicle, and arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle in this order. Even when there is a collision of vehicles etc., equipment of the fuel cell system, especially a fuel cell is protected from being damaged and also the space of a vehicle compartment or a load room is fully secured, and further, behavior stability etc. is good.

Claims

1. A fuel cell electric vehicle, comprising

a fuel cell which generates electricity by being supplied with fuel and an oxidizer;

a thermoregulator to adjust a temperature of said fuel cell by sending out cooling fluid through tubes;

a fuel reservoir to store said fuel for supplying to said fuel cell; and

a humidifier to supply moisture to said fuel cell by humidifying at least one of the fuel from said fuel reservoir and said oxidizer;

wherein said thermoregulator, said fuel cell, said humidifier and said fuel reservoir are serially arranged and aligned along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle in an arrangement extending from a front position of the vehicle to a rear position of the vehicle, with said fuel cell arranged longitudinally rearward of said thermoregulator, said humidifier arranged longitudinally rearward of said fuel cell, and said fuel reservoir arranged longitudinally rearward of said humidifier in the vehicle.

2. A fuel cell electric vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein said fuel cell is arranged in a bottom of a floor of the vehicle arranged in a substantially central longitudinal position of the vehicle.

3. A fuel cell electric vehicle as set forth in claim 2,

wherein said fuel cell is disposed in the central longitudinal position of said vehicle in a fuel cell system box arranged under the floor of the vehicle;

wherein at least a part of said thermoregulator is arranged ahead of said fuel cell in said fuel cell system box, and said humidifier is arranged behind said fuel cell.

4. A fuel cell electric vehicle as set forth in claim 3, further comprising fuel cell output interception means to determine whether or not electric power extraction of said fuel cell is possible or whether or not interception is carried out, and fuel supply adjustment means to adjust and supply the state of the fuel to said fuel cell.

5. A fuel cell electric vehicle as set forth in claim 4, wherein said fuel cell output interception means is placed on said fuel cell.

6. A fuel cell electric vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein a radiator from said thermoregulator which cools a heat medium by wind buffeted thereon by running of said vehicle is arranged in a front position of said vehicle, and a traction motor is arranged immediately behind the radiator.

7. A fuel cell electric vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein said fuel cell is equipped with a plurality of cells stacked longitudinally along said vehicle.

8. A fuel cell electric vehicle as set forth in claim 6, wherein said fuel cell is equipped with a plurality of cells stacked longitudinally along said vehicle.

9. A fuel cell electric vehicle, comprising a fuel cell which generates electricity by being supplied with fuel and an oxidizer;

a thermoregulator to adjust a temperature of said fuel cell by sending out cooling fluid through tubes;

a fuel reservoir to store said fuel for supplying to said fuel cell; and

a humidifier to supply moisture to said fuel cell by humidifying at least one of said fuel from said fuel reservoir and said oxidizer;

wherein

said fuel cell is arranged in a central longitudinal position of said vehicle in a fuel cell system box provided in a bottom of a floor disposed in a substantially central longitudinal position of said vehicle;

wherein at least a part of said thermoregulator is arranged in one side of the front or back of said fuel cell in said fuel cell system box and said humidifier is arranged in the other side of the front or back of said fuel cell.

10. A fuel cell electric vehicle as set forth in claim 9, wherein said fuel cell is equipped with a plurality of cells stacked in the longitudinal direction of said vehicle.

11. A fuel cell system box, wherein a fuel cell used for a car which generates electricity by being supplied with fuel and an oxidizer is carried, while having a box portion having an upper part that is opened, said box portion comprising:

a thermoregulator to adjust a temperature of said fuel cell by sending out cooling fluid through tubes;

fuel cell output interception means to determine whether or not electric power extraction of said fuel cell is possible or whether or not interception is carried out; and

a humidifier to supply moisture to said fuel cell by humidifying at least either fuel from said fuel reservoir or said oxidizer using a humidifier;

wherein said thermoregulator, said fuel cell output interception means, and said humidifier are formed as an individual unit and a blanket to seal the upper part of said box portion accommodating said fuel cell.