System and Method for Initiating Operation of a Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle

A system controller installable in a fuel cell hybrid electric vehicle and comprising a computer readable medium having computer executable program code embodied thereon, the computer executable program code configured to cause the system controller to initiate power generation of a fuel cell when installed in the fuel cell hybrid electric vehicle by performing the steps of:

• electrically connecting a start up battery to an ultracapacitor-based propulsion energy storage;
• charging the ultracapacitor-based propulsion energy storage with the start up battery to a predetermined voltage level associated with powering an air delivery for a predetermined amount of time;
• disconnecting the start up battery from the ultracapacitor-based propulsion energy storage;
• electrically connecting the ultracapacitor-based propulsion energy storage to the air delivery compressor;
• operating the air delivery compressor using the charge on the ultracapacitor-based propulsion energy storage to provide a predetermined quantity of air to the fuel cell;
• and
• causing the fuel cell to generate electricity.

A fuel cell hybrid electric vehicle comprising:

• a high-voltage DC bus;
• an ultracapacitor-based propulsion energy storage electrically coupled to the high-voltage bus;
• an air delivery compressor electrically coupled to the high-voltage bus;
• a battery selectably electrically coupled to the high-voltage bus;
• a fuel cell selectably electrically coupled to the high-voltage bus;
• at least one electric propulsion motor selectably electrically coupled to the high-voltage bus;
• and,
• a system controller configured to perform the steps of:
• electrically connecting the battery to the ultracapacitor-based propulsion energy storage, charging the ultracapacitor-based propulsion energy storage with the battery to a predetermined voltage level associated with powering an air delivery for a predetermined amount of time, disconnecting the battery from the ultracapacitor-based propulsion energy storage, electrically connecting the ultracapacitor-based propulsion energy storage to the air delivery compressor, operating the air delivery compressor using the charge on the ultracapacitor-based propulsion energy storage to provide a predetermined quantity of air to the fuel cell, and causing the fuel cell to generate electricity.