Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Charles E Freese, V

William Henry Pettit

Matthew C Kirklin

Alan B Martin

Margarita M Mann

Balasubramanian Lakshmanan

Gary J Arvan

Adam Vosz

Linda Garcia

Brent D Hendrickson

A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell generator, a rechargeable energy storage circuit, an auxiliary load, a converter circuit, and a switch circuit. The fuel cell generator is operable to generate electrical power in a stack output signal. The auxiliary load is powered by the rechargeable energy storage circuit while in a first mode, and powered by a local signal while in a second mode. The converter circuit is operable to convert the stack output signal into a plurality of recharge signals while in the first mode and in the second mode, and convert the stack output signal into the local signal while in the second mode. The switch circuit is operable switch the plurality of recharge signals to one or more electric vehicles, and switch the local signal to the auxiliary load while in the second mode.

System for charging a battery electric vehicle or a plugin hybrid vehicle using a fuel cell

A torque generating system is described, and includes a fuel cell power device, a high-voltage battery, an electric drive unit, and a controller. The fuel cell power device has a non-linear power-temperature relationship that has a local temperature maxima at a first electric power level and a local temperature minima at a second electric power level. A first operating point of the fuel cell power device is less than the first electric power level, and a second operating point of the fuel cell power device is set at a third electric power level that is greater than the first electric power level, wherein the third electric power level generates a fuel cell temperature that is less than the local temperature maxima. The fuel cell power device is controlled to one of the first operating point or the second operating point to transfer electric power to the electric drive unit.

Method and apparatus for monitoring a fuel cell

A system for matching a plurality of electrically powered vehicles to a plurality of available mobile chargers includes a computerized server device programmed to monitor optimization inputs related to the plurality of available mobile chargers, monitor optimization inputs related to the plurality of electrically powered vehicles operated by a plurality of customers, determine a lowest-cost-based ranked listing of matched charger and vehicle pairings for each of the plurality of customers based upon the optimization inputs related to the plurality of available chargers and the optimization inputs related to the plurality of the electrically powered vehicles, present the ranked listing of matched charger and vehicle pairings to each of the customers, monitor selection by each of the plurality of customers of a desired charger for the customer from the ranked listing, and direct each of the plurality of customers to the desired charger for the customer.

Mobile direct current fast charger customer-vehicle-station matching system

Presented are mobile charging stations for recharging electrified vehicles, methods for making/using such mobile charging stations, and parking facilities equipped with such mobile charging stations. A mobile charging station includes a frame with drive wheels and a prime mover operable to drive the wheels to propel the charging station. A hydrogen storage container and fuel cell are mounted to the frame. The fuel cell oxidizes hydrogen received from the storage container to generate electrical current. An electrical coupling mechanism connects the fuel cell to a battery pack of an electric-drive vehicle. A resident or remote controller is programmed to receive charge requests to recharge vehicles, and responsively determines path plan data for the mobile charging station. The controller commands the prime mover to propel the mobile charging station from the charger's origin to a charger destination, and enables the fuel cell to transmit electrical current to the vehicle.

Mobile charging stations with fuel-cell generators for electric-drive vehicles

A system for managing heat in a mobile charger configured to provide power to an electric vehicle includes the mobile charger. The mobile charger includes a fuel cell stack, a heat reservoir, and a liquid coolant system including one or more liquid coolant loops configured to transfer heat between the fuel cell stack and the heat reservoir. The mobile charger further includes a computerized processor which is programmed to selectively control the liquid coolant system in one of a plurality of a thermal management modes configured to selectively remove heat from the fuel cell stack and provide heat to the fuel cell stack.

Mobile fuel cell direct current fast charger and portable power supply thermal integration

Presented are mobile charging stations for recharging electrified vehicles, methods for making/using such mobile charging stations, and parking facilities equipped with such mobile charging stations. A mobile charging station includes a frame with multiple drive wheels and a prime mover operable to drive the wheels to propel the charging station. A hydrogen storage container and fuel cell are mounted to the frame. The fuel cell oxidizes hydrogen received from the storage container to generate electrical current. An electrical coupling mechanism connects the fuel cell to a traction battery pack of an electric-drive vehicle. A resident or remote controller is programmed to receive charge requests to recharge vehicles, and responsively determines path plan data for the mobile charging station. The controller commands the prime mover to propel the mobile charging station from the charger's origin to a charger destination, and enables the fuel cell to transmit electrical current to the vehicle.

A mobile fuel cell system includes a fuel cell generator generating a stack output signal. Multiple boost converter circuits converting the stack output signal into multiple recharge signals while in a first mode. A boost converter circuit converting the stack output signal into a local signal while in a second mode. Multiple charging handles connectable to multiple electric vehicles. A switch circuit presenting the recharge signals to the charging handles, remove the recharge signals from the charging handles and present the local signal while in the second mode. An auxiliary load may be connected to the fuel cell generator and the switch circuit. A rechargeable energy storage circuit powers the auxiliary load while in the first mode and stores energy received in the local signal while in the second mode. The auxiliary load is powered with the local signal while in the second mode.

System for charging a battery electric vehicle or a plugin hybrid vehicle using a mobile fuel cell

A fuel cell system with reduced leakage and a method of assembling a fuel cell system. Bipolar plates within the system include reactant channels and coolant channels that are fluidly coupled to inlet and outlet flowpaths, all of which are formed within a coolant-engaging or reactant-engaging surface of the plate. One or more seals are also formed on the fluid-engaging surface to help reduce leakage by maintaining fluid isolation of the reactants and coolant as they flow through their respective channels and flowpaths that are defined between adjacently-placed plates. The seal&#x2014;with its combination of in-plane and out-of-plane dimensions&#x2014;forms a substantially hollow volume, into which a plug is placed to reduce the tendency of the seal to form a shunted flow of the coolant or reactant around the intended active area of the plate. A fluid port intersection is integrally formed with the seal and is formed to be fluidly cooperative with the volume, and is capable of accepting the introduction of a fluent precursor of the plug material such that upon curing, the precursor material forms a substantially rigid insert that continuously fills both the volume and intersection, thereby increasing the resistance of the plug to movement and the seal to shunted flow. In one form, the geometry of the fluent material injection site is such that it promotes plug anchoring within its intended location, while also providing a manufacturing aid to visually inspect for plug installation, as well as to serve as a bipolar plate stacking alignment locator and verification.

Injected metal bead channel seal achieved through stamped plate features on fuel cell bipolar plates

Methods and systems are provided for using remote sensor data for a vehicle. The vehicle includes a control system, an interface, and a processor. The interface is configured to automatically obtain one or more remote sensor values via a wireless network from a remote source that is remote from the vehicle. The processor is coupled to the control system and the interface, and is configured to control one or more functions of the control system using the one or more remote sensor values.

Remote sensor data for vehicles

An exhaust gas cooling apparatus and method for cooling an exhaust gas is provided. The exhaust cooling apparatus has a first fluid conduit and a variable nozzle extending from the first fluid conduit. The variable nozzle being disposed in an inlet end of a second fluid conduit, wherein the variable nozzle has at least two dissimilar materials adjacent to each other and a fluid inlet opening is located between an outer periphery of the variable nozzle and an inner surface of the inlet end of the second fluid conduit. The at least two dissimilar materials vary the size of an opening of the variable nozzle by moving toward or away from a center line of the first fluid conduit in response to a temperature of an exhaust gas flowing through the first fluid conduit.

Apparatus and method for cooling an exhaust gas

An internal combustion engine has a first and a second cylinder bank. The first and second cylinder banks are arranged such that they have less than a 180 degree included angle with respect to one another, thereby forming an inboard region or generally V-shaped cavity. A respective first and second cylinder head is mounted with respect to the first and second cylinder bank. Integrated within the first and second cylinder head is a first and second integrated exhaust manifold, respectively. The first and second integrated exhaust manifolds are provided on the engine in an 'inboard' orientation, i.e. disposed on a side of their respective cylinder heads such that they are substantially adjacent to the generally V-shaped cavity. The first and second integrated exhaust manifold may operate to convey exhaust gases from the engine to at least one turbocharger, which is mounted substantially within the generally V-shaped cavity.

Integrated inboard exhaust manifolds for V-type engines

An exhaust gas recirculation cooler may include a housing and a first wall. The housing may include an exhaust gas region, a coolant region, an exhaust gas inlet, and an exhaust gas outlet. The first wall may be fixed within the housing and may separate the exhaust gas region from the coolant region. The first wall may include a first portion formed from a first material and facing the exhaust gas region and a second portion formed from a second material and facing the coolant region. One of the first and second materials may have a coefficient of thermal expansion that is greater than the other of the first and second materials. The first wall may be deflected toward one of the exhaust gas region and the coolant region during cooler operation based on a difference in the coefficient of thermal expansion of the first and second materials.

Heat exchanger with disimilar metal properties

An automatic docking system for docking a towing vehicle with a towed vehicle includes a sensing device, a controller, an automatic steering system, an automatic braking system, and a plurality of targets. The sensing device detects the plurality of targets located on a hitch of the towed vehicle. The controller determines the location of the towing vehicle relative to the towed vehicle based on the detection of the plurality of targets. The controller automatically steers the towing vehicle towards the towed vehicle to assist in the docking of the towing vehicle to the towed vehicle. The controller engages the automatic braking system to slow or stop the towing vehicle as required.

Vehicle docking assistance system

An exhaust gas cooling apparatus and method for cooling an exhaust gas is provided. The exhaust cooling apparatus having a first fluid conduit having a variable nozzle opening disposed at one end of the first fluid conduit, the variable nozzle opening being defined by a shape memory alloy extending from the first fluid conduit; and a second fluid conduit having an inlet end and an outlet end, the variable nozzle opening being disposed in the second fluid conduit proximate to the inlet end of the second fluid conduit such that a fluid inlet opening is disposed about an outer periphery of the variable nozzle opening and an inner surface of the inlet end of the second fluid conduit, the shape memory alloy varying the size of the variable nozzle opening by moving toward or away from a center line of the first fluid conduit in response to a temperature of an exhaust gas flowing through the first fluid conduit.

An exhaust gas recirculation cooler may include a housing and a first wall. The housing may include an exhaust gas region, a coolant region, an exhaust gas inlet, and an exhaust gas outlet. The first wall may be fixed within the housing and may separate the exhaust gas region from the coolant region. The first wall may include a first region facing the exhaust gas region and a first tab having a fixed end coupled to the first region and a free end generally opposite the fixed end. The free end may be displaceable between first and second positions based on an operating temperature of the exhaust gas. The free end may be displaced in a direction generally perpendicular to the first region when in the second position.

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Ira Township, MI, United States of America

Charles E Freese, V