The DOE has issued a Request for Information to solicit feedback about the feasibility of fuel cell range extenders for battery-electric vehicles. The DOE’s office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE) is specifically interested in the idea of an after-market modification to extend vehicle range using a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cell system.

The RFI is seeking input on a number of questions, including:

• The business case for using battery propulsion with fuel cell range extenders for light-duty vans or delivery vehicles.
• Potential performance improvements (e.g. low downtime for refueling, vehicle torque).
• Potential increase in fleet customers, given an increase in electric range.
• Potential to reduce battery size by incorporating hydrogen energy storage.
• The minimum number of deployed vehicles needed to provide enough data for industry acceptance and to enable further deployments without government assistance.
• Economic barriers to commercializing the technology.
• Challenges in providing refueling infrastructure.
• Technical advantages that would make fuel cell range extenders more viable than BEVs or PHEVs.

Source: Green Car Congress
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