Fuel cell power supply system

A power system, comprising

• an off-board station for use with a mobile vehicle power system having a power plant for converting fuel to electrical power,
• fuel supply means for supplying fuel to a mobile vehicle fuel cell power system from the off-board station,
• electrical connection means adapted for receiving electrical power generated by the power plant of the mobile vehicle power system and adapted for supplying power generated by the power plant for use off-board from said mobile vehicle power system, and
• communication means for communicating information regarding at least one of the on-board power plant operation and off-board station condition parameters to another location.

A power system for converting fuel to electricity, comprising a mobile vehicle power system and an off-board station, the mobile vehicle power system including

• a rechargeable battery,
• motor means coupled to said battery for propelling the vehicle,
• a power plant for converting fuel to electrical power and for connection to said battery to recharge said battery,
• storage means for storing fuel for said power plant,
• means for coupling to said off-board station for delivering thereto a portion of the electrical power generated by said power plant when not required for on-board use, and
• means for receiving fuel from said off-board station for provision to said power plant,
• and said off-board station including an interface adapted to couple to said means for coupling for physically connecting said off-board station to said mobile vehicle power system, the off-board station including
• means for receiving electrical power from said mobile vehicle power system,
• output means for providing at least a portion of said electrical power for use off-board of said mobile vehicle power system, and
• means for delivering fuel to said mobile vehicle power system.

A power exchanging system, comprising a mobile vehicle power system and an off-board station, the mobile vehicle power system including

• a rechargeable battery,
• motor means coupled to said battery for propelling the vehicle,
• a generator for converting fuel to electrical power and for connection to said battery to recharge said battery for powering, wherein said generator comprises a hybrid power source including a gas turbine and a fuel cell, and
• means for coupling to said off-board station for delivering thereto electrical power generated by said generator,
• and said off-board station including an interface adapted to couple to said means for coupling for physically connecting said off-board station to said mobile vehicle power system, the off-board station including
• means for receiving electrical power from said mobile vehicle power system, and
• output means for providing a portion of said electrical power for use off-board of said mobile vehicle power system.

A power exchanging system, comprising

• an off-board station for use with a mobile vehicle power system having a generator for converting fuel to electrical power,
• fuel supply means for supplying fuel to the mobile vehicle power system from the off-board station,
• electrical connection means adapted for receiving electrical power generated by the generator of the mobile vehicle power system and adapted for supplying power generated by the generator for use off-board said mobile vehicle power system, and
• communication means for communicating information regarding at least one of the operation of the on-board generator and parameters regarding the condition of the off-board station to another location.

A power system for converting fuel to electricity, comprising a mobile vehicle system and an off-board station, the mobile vehicle power system including

• a rechargeable battery,
• motor means coupled to said battery for propelling the vehicle,
• a power plant for converting fuel to electrical power and for connection to said battery to recharge said battery,
• storage means for storing fuel for said power plant, and
• means for coupling to said off-board station for delivering thereto a portion of the electrical power generated by said power plant when not required for on-board use,
• and said off-board station including an interface adapted to couple to said means for coupling for physically connecting said off-board station to said mobile vehicle power system, the off-board station including
• means for receiving electrical power from said mobile vehicle power system, and
• output means for providing at least a portion of said electrical power for use off-board of said mobile vehicle power system, wherein the electrical power provided by said output means for off-board use is direct current electrical power, and wherein said power system further comprises a direct current power meter for measuring said direct current electrical power.

A power system for converting fuel to electricity, comprising a mobile vehicle power system and an off-board station, the mobile vehicle power system including

• a rechargeable battery,
• motor means coupled to said battery for propelling the vehicle,
• a power plant for converting fuel to electrical power and for connection to said battery to recharge said battery,
• storage means for storing fuel for said power plant, and
• means for coupling to said off-board station for delivering thereto a portion of the electrical power generated by said power plant when not required for on-board use,
• and said off-board station including an interface adapted to couple to said means for coupling for physically connecting said off-board station to said mobile vehicle power system, the off-board station including
• means for receiving electrical power from said mobile vehicle power system,
• output means for providing at least a portion of said electrical power for use off-board of said mobile vehicle power system,
• inverting means for converting the electrical power supplied to said station from said mobile vehicle power system from direct current to alternating current for use off-board of said mobile vehicle power system, and
• power meter means for measuring the amount of alternating current power supplied by said output means for off-board use.