Systems and methods for powering an electric cracking unit of an on-board ammonia cracking system

An electric cracking system for on-board ammonia cracking, the electric cracking system comprising:

• an electric cracking unit having an inlet configured to receive ammonia, and an outlet coupled to an injection system for an internal combustion engine, the electric cracking unit configured to perform an endothermic ammonia cracking process when heated to a threshold temperature suitable to crack ammonia into a hydrogen gas mixture;
• a heating element disposed within the electric cracking unit;
• a power supply configured to supply electric current to only the electric cracking unit, the electric current energizing the heating element to heat the electric cracking unit to the threshold temperature suitable to perform the endothermic ammonia cracking process, the power supply not providing electric current to the internal combustion engine;
• and
• a motor-generator coupled to the power supply, the motor-generator providing electric charge to the power supply during regenerative braking of a vehicle,
• wherein the heating element energizes when electric current is drawn from the power supply and ammonia received by the electric cracking unit undergoes the endothermic ammonia cracking process, resulting in the hydrogen gas mixture that exits the outlet and flows to the injection system.

An electric cracking system for on-board ammonia cracking, the electric cracking system comprising:

• an electric cracking unit having an inlet configured to receive ammonia, and an outlet coupled to an injection system for an internal combustion engine, the electric cracking unit configured to perform an endothermic ammonia cracking process when heated to a threshold temperature suitable to crack ammonia into a hydrogen gas mixture;
• a heating element disposed within the electric cracking unit;
• a power supply configured to supply electric current to only the electric cracking unit, the electric current energizing the heating element to heat the electric cracking unit to the threshold temperature suitable to perform the endothermic ammonia cracking process, the power supply not providing electric current to the internal combustion engine;
• and
• an energy harvesting mechanism coupled to the power supply, the energy harvesting mechanism providing electric charge to the power supply,
• wherein the heating element energizes when electric current is drawn from the power supply and ammonia received by the electric cracking unit undergoes the endothermic ammonia cracking process, resulting in the hydrogen gas mixture that exits the outlet and flows to the injection system.