Reducing hydrogen consumption in hybrid electric vehicles using Aquila optimization algorithm

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Fuel cell hybrid electric vehicles have earned significant interest owing to their superior performance and ecological advantages. Crafting an energy management approach aimed at boosting the performance of fuel cell electric vehicles by effectively managing power distribution among diverse energy sources represents a vital engineering challenge. This approach considers issues such as hydrogen consumption and efficiency. The objectives of this study were: 1) Developing a state-of-the-art energy management system for fuel cell hybrid electric vehicles to maximize electrical efficiency, reduce fuel consumption, and achieve optimal power distribution. 2) Applying the aquila optimizer to the proposed system to enhance the external energy maximization strategy. METHODS: Metaheuristic optimization algorithms play a vital role in obtaining the best set of fuel cell electric vehicles’ parameters. Among the newest and most efficient algorithms, the Aquila optimization algorithm is highly regarded. It was used in the proposed energy management strategy to optimize the approach of maximizing external energy, resulting in reduced hydrogen use and improved system efficiency. To assess the effectiveness of the proposed energy management strategy, the federal test procedure was utilized to mimic city driving conditions, allowing for a comparative simulation against eight proficient algorithms. FINDINGS: The simulation findings illustrated that the suggested energy management strategy surpasses other currently available solutions resulting from competitive optimizers by reducing the consumption of fuel, with a considerable decrease of 52.26 percent. Additionally, the recommended energy management strategy technique exhibited a 3.08 percent enhancement in system efficiency. CONCLUSION: The proposed strategy showed outstanding results over the other methods. Moreover, advancements in the energy management strategy have the capacity to lower dependence on traditional fossil fuels and alleviate the harmful environmental consequences produced by the vehicle’s emissions. Consequently, adopting a sustainable transportation framework powered by renewable hydrogen production will substantially lessen detrimental impacts and foster a cleaner and greener environment.