Hybrid Electric Vehicle Energy System using a Lithium-Ion Battery and Hydrogen Fuel Cell with Smart Energy Management

snehal gavhalkar

ABSTRACT:Hybrid electric propulsion using a battery and a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell is a practical approach for improving the performance of electric vehicles under varying load conditions. A battery can respond quickly to sudden power demand, but repeated peak-current operation increases thermal stress and accelerates aging. A fuel cell can support longer operation and fast refueling, yet its dynamic response is slower during rapid load transitions. This work presents a prototype hybrid energy system that combines a lithium-ion battery pack and a PEM hydrogen fuel cell through DC–DC power converters and a common DC bus. A smart energy management controller based on the ESP32 monitors battery voltage, current, temperature, hydrogen pressure, and load demand, and then selects the operating mode in real time. The developed controller enables coordinated source sharing during peak load, cruising, charging, and fault conditions. An IoT monitoring interface is also used for remote supervision and fault indication. The prototype is intended to reduce battery stress, maintain DC bus stability, and improve operational safety in hybrid electric vehicle applications.Keywords—Hybrid electric vehicle, PEM fuel cell, lithium-ion battery, smart energy management, ESP32, DC–DC converter, IoT monitoring