Standby mode for optimization of efficiency and durability of a fuel cell vehicle application

A method for putting a fuel cell vehicle in a stand-by mode and removing the fuel cell vehicle from the stand-by mode, said method comprising:

• determining whether predetermined stand-by mode vehicle level entrance criteria have been satisfied at a vehicle control level where the vehicle level entrance criteria includes that a vehicle key is in a run position, the vehicle is in park or a vehicle power level is in a low power or economy condition;
• determining whether predetermined stand-by mode fuel cell level entrance criteria have been satisfied for a fuel cell system control level, where the fuel cell level entrance criteria include that the fuel cell vehicle is in a run state and a predetermined fuel cell run time is greater than a predetermined threshold;
• putting the vehicle in the stand-by mode if both the vehicle level entrance criteria and the fuel cell level entrance criteria have been satisfied;
• and
• exiting the stand-by mode if predetermined stand-by mode vehicle level exit criteria have been satisfied or predetermined stand-by mode fuel cell level exit criteria have been satisfied, where the vehicle level exit criteria include that a battery state-of-charge is below a predetermined threshold, the vehicle is not in park and the vehicle is not in a low power or economy position.

A system for putting a fuel cell vehicle in a stand-by mode and removing the fuel cell vehicle from the stand-by mode, said system comprising:

• means for determining whether predetermined stand-by mode vehicle level entrance criteria have been satisfied at a vehicle control level;
• means for determining whether predetermined stand-by mode fuel cell level entrance criteria have been satisfied for a fuel cell system control level;
• and
• means for putting the vehicle in the stand-by mode if both the vehicle level entrance criteria and the fuel cell level entrance criteria have been satisfied.