72kw Hydrogen Fuel Genset

"The Clean Air Act requires flight line Ground Support Equipment (GSE) to convert from highly polluting diesel engine technology to electric or hybrid-electric operation as a measure to mitigate overall airport emissions. The proposed Phase I effort willinvestigate the feasibility of replacing a conventional 72kW diesel engine generator set (genset) with a fuel cell/battery power plant in a hybrid-all-electric configuration.To adhere to the Common Core Power Production (C2P2) initiative, the replacement fuel cell-powered 72kW genset must have equal or better power output, size, weight, fuel consumption, maintenance, training, ease of support, safety, life cycle cost, andoverall ease of operation. PEM Fuel cell technology coupled with efficient power electronics promises higher system efficiency, lower emissions, fast transient response, and potentially lower life cycle cost. AeroVironment will overcome the manytechnical challenges with experience gained conducting our NASA-sponsored fuel cell integration work, with experience gained through our distributed generation joint venture with Delco Remy International (75kW and 150kW gensets), and with our extensivepower electronics and system integration expertise.By demonstrating feasibility, we will ultimately reduce emissions and also help reduce U.S. reliance on foreign oil by accelerating the transition to a hydrogen economy. Anticipated benefits include far lower emissions (zero), h