Effect of Operating Conditions on Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Performance: A One-Dimensional Mathematical Model Applied to an Electric Motorcycle

Do, Tan-Thich
Vi, Trung-Kien

Automotive Experiences
Vol. 9 No. 2 (2026)

The performance of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is strongly influenced by its operating conditions. In this study, a one-dimensional (1-D) mathematical model is developed to investigate PEMFC performance while explicitly accounting for water transport within the fuel cell during operation. The results demonstrate that the cell output performance is significantly affected by key operating parameters, including operating temperature, operating pressure, membrane thickness, exchange current density, and charge transfer coefficient. In addition, gas species transport and water management are incorporated into the model. The developed model is further applied to evaluate and analyze the dynamic performance characteristics of a hydrogen fuel cell electric motorcycle, including hydrogen consumption, water generation, and energy efficiency under the World Motorcycle Test Cycle (WMTC). This study provides a meaningful framework for predicting and designing the dynamic performance of hydrogen fuel cell electric motorcycles under realistic operating conditions.