The Journal of Engine Research

The Journal of Engine Research

Simulation of fuel consumption of a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle with a thermostat control strategy and variables affecting its fuel consumption in ADVISOR software

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Saeid Saravani 1
Mohammadreza Arbab Tafti 1
Arash Mohammadi 2
Naser Sina 3
1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University, Tehran, Iran
2 دانشکده مهندسی مکانیک، دانشگاه تربیت دبیر شهید رجایی، تهران، ایران
3 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/er.2025.2062179.1095
Abstract
In recent years, due to the depletion of fossil energy resources and concerns about greenhouse gas emissions, the use of hydrogen and fuel cells (FCs) has received much attention. Therefore, there is interest in establishing hydrogen production infrastructure and developing fuel cell electric vehicles. Fuel cell electric vehicles with high range, short refueling time, and zero emissions, compared to battery electric vehicles, are considered the roadmap of future vehicles. This paper focuses on modeling and fuel consumption of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) using ADVISOR software. The simulation of the fuel cell electric vehicle system with a thermostat control strategy during different driving cycles is carried out. The aim of applying this strategy is to reduce the fuel consumption of fuel cell electric vehicles. The results obtained from the fuel consumption in the three driving cycles Federal Test Procedure (FTP), New European Driving Cycle (NEDC), and Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule (UDDS) are 12.1, 7.1, and 7.6 liters, respectively, which were validated with the fuel consumption results of a prototype vehicle from Argonne National Laboratory (ANL). Then, the parameters affecting hydrogen fuel consumption, such as road gradient and aerodynamic drag coefficient, were also investigated in three different driving cycles: FTP, NEDC, and UDDS. Hydrogen fuel consumption in the FTP driving cycle increased by an average of 24.66% for a one percent increase. In the NEDC driving cycle, this increase in hydrogen fuel consumption is equal to 25.92% on average. Also, in the UDDS driving cycle, the increase in hydrogen fuel consumption for a one percent increase in road gradient is equal to 25.87% on average. The results also show that with an increase in the aerodynamic drag coefficient from 0.26 to 0.30, the average hydrogen fuel consumption per 100 km increased by an average of 2.5%.
Keywords
Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles
Hydrogen Fuel Consumption
ADVISOR
Driving Cycle
Road Gradient
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  • Receive Date 05 June 2025
  • Revise Date 07 September 2025
  • Accept Date 09 October 2025