Highly Efficient Fuel Cell Vehicle (PAC-Car II)

PAC-Car II is a fuel cell powered electric vehicle built for fuel economy races. It holds the current world record in fuel economy with a mileage of 5385 km per liter of gasoline equivalent. The vehicle was built during two years by four students of the mechanical engineering department doing a project-oriented major on the PAC-Car project, with the assistance of partners from ETH and industry. The four students focused on aerodynamics, light-weight construction, powertrain design and fuel cell control, respectively. Two female students of ETH were driving the vehicle during many tests around Zurich and for the races in France. After breaking the track record in Nogaro/F the World Record was successfully attacked in Ladoux/F during the Shell/Michelin Eco-marathon on the proving grounds of Michelin. The vehicle has a total weight of 29 kg, an average tank-to-wheel efficiency of approximately 50%, rear-wheel drive and steering in order to reduce the frontal area, and its fuel cell is powered by hydrogen. Two low-pressure bottles, containing 1 g of hydrogen each, suffice for one race. The power electronics built in our lab supplies the two driving motors, the compressor for the air supply, the hydrogen recirculation pump, and the water pump. The controllers were developed with Matlab/Simulink and implemented on a real-time target system. Optimal control methodology, together with dynamic programming, were used to derive an optimal driving strategy for each race track, taking into account elevation and demanded average speed. This strategy has to be followed by the driver during the race as well as possible and under consideration of external disturbances like other competitors, wind, etc.

More: PAC-Car II Website