Convex programming improved online power management in a range extended fuel cell electric truck

Abstract This article develops a near-optimal but practically online power distribution strategy for a range extended fuel cell electric truck, based on results of rapid convex programming. With the powertrain model of the range extended fuel cell electric truck, a convex programming problem is first formulated to optimize the supervisory power-split law between a fuel cell system and a battery pack. A rule-based causal charge depleting and charge sustaining control strategy is implemented and optimized, by means of extracting the optimized threshold values guided by convex programming results. The equivalent hydrogen consumption of the truck is systematically investigated under the China heavy-duty commercial vehicle test cycle and the China-world transient vehicle cycle, which can mimic the typical driving patterns of the truck well. Moreover, a comparative study of different control algorithms is carried out under multiple drive cycles. Ultimately, a sensitivity study to the battery initial state of charge is examined, in order to reveal how it affects the power management strategy and resultant fuel economy of the truck.