Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Characterisation under Laboratory and In‐use Operation

Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) are one of the main options considered as possible future alternatives to conventional vehicles. The paper evaluates a light-duty FCEV under both laboratory and on-road conditions. Hydrogen consumption and vehicle efficiency were measured over various driving and temperature conditions. Results show hydrogen consumption between 0.975 kg/100 km and 1.5 kg/100 km, close to the officially declared value. A new extended formulation of vehicle efficiency is proposed to consider different energy streams in the vehicle. Vehicle indicative efficiency remained between 50% and 60% on the majority of cases. The paper also investigates the feasibility of applying a fuel cell system of similar characteristics for commercial urban and rural applications, the Vehicle Energy Consumption Calculation TOol (VECTO), as a possible alternative solution to a battery electric equivalent vehicle. •Hydrogen consumption ranges from 0.975 to 1.506 kg/100 km in lab and real world.•Higher energy economy than ICE-mild hybrid, comparable to plug-hybrid equivalent.•Energy and H2 consumption factors derived.•FCEV technology can offer benefits for urban delivery applications.