Specifications

4B – Electric Motors

Article 79: Fuel Cell Powered Vehicles

Fuel system

• The competitors must provide a description and a precise technical drawing

of the fuel supply system.

• The fuel system must be easily accessible for inspection and

measurements.

Hydrogen cylinders

FC-powered vehicle must use a compressed hydrogen cylinder, referred to

hereafter as a cylinder, as provided by the Organisers during the entire event.

Only one cylinder may be fitted to a vehicle at any time.

Cartridges and any other means of H2 storage are not permitted.

For Prototypes vehicles, the following cylinders will be provided:

• Europe: B04 cylinder, 0.4 litre of hydrogen at 200 bar.

(7cm / 33cm) 1.4kg

• Americas: Exchange cylinder 7” X 16” (18cm x 41 cm) weighing 15 lbs.

(7 kg) at ~ 140 bar.

• Asia: Catalina MD cylinder, 2.9 litre of hydrogen@139bar,

(11.1cm x 42.4cm), 2.4kg

For UrbanConcept vehicles, the following cylinders will be provided:

• Europe: B1 cylinder, 1 litre of hydrogen at 200 bar.

(10cm x 35cm), 2.57kg

• Americas: Exchange cylinder, 7” X 16” (18cm x 41 cm) weighing 15 lbs.

(7 kg) at ~ 140 bar.

• Asia: Catalina MD cylinder, 2.9 litre of hydrogen@139bar,

(11.1cm x 42.4cm), 2.4kg

Cylinders must be installed on the vehicle under the supervision of a Fuel

Marshal. Participants are not allowed to keep any cylinders in their possession

over night. Upon arrival at the circuit, Team Managers must contact the Fuel

Marshal, who will organise all relevant logistics.

Ventilation

The vehicle body must allow for ventilation at the highest point of the fuel cell

compartment, providing an orifice with a minimum opening of 5 cm

. Another

5 cm

opening must be provided at the highest point of the driver compartment.

Hydrogen detector

A hydrogen sensor must be installed in the fuel cell compartment, near the

main ventilation orifice mentioned above. This hydrogen sensor must drive the

emergency shutdown valve and relay mentioned below. The trip level of the

hydrogen sensor must be tuned to 25% of the LEL (Lower Explosive Limit) of

hydrogen, i.e. 1% of hydrogen in air. A test will be carried out during the

technical inspection.

Shell Eco-marathon ® Official Rules 2011 – Chapter 1

For commercial Fuel Cells with integrated H2 detector it is still

required to fit a H2 sensor as described above.