Design and implementation of a new dual-layer type 2 FLC-based energy management system for a fuel cell electric vehicle

Abstract

This study presents a new dual-layer energy management strategy (EMS) based on Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Logic Control (IT2 FLC) for a 1 kW PEMFC–ultracapacitor (UC) hybrid fuel cell electric vehicle. The proposed strategy enhances power distribution stability and fuel cell lifespan by leveraging the fast dynamic response of UC to mitigate the slow transient behavior of PEMFCs. A custom-designed full-bridge push-pull converter is developed to regulate power flow between energy sources, ensuring a stable 96V DC output despite variations in input voltage. Experimental validation on a real-scale prototype confirms robust voltage regulation within ±1 V and effective UC participation during transients, with instantaneous support up to 1000 W, thereby reducing fuel cell stress. Under scaled FTP-75 and WLTP Class-1 cycles, the IT2FLC consistently outperforms PID and Type-1 FLC, improving tracking by >80 % versus PID while limiting MAE and RMSE to <0.02 m/s and <0.03 m/s, respectively, with negligible overshoot. © 2026 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC