Professional Certificate of Competency in Hydrogen Powered Vehicles

Module 1: Drivers of Hydrogen as a Fuel 

• Demand of mobility and the primary energy resources that are available 
• Context and motivation for hydrogen as a fuel source  
• Climate change & the need for a carbon free fuel  
• Introduction to a range of hydrogen powered vehicles 

Module 2: An Overview of Hydrogen Production, Distribution and Storage Process  

• Categories of Hydrogen Production: Thermal, Electrolytic, Photolytic 
• The Hydrogen distribution network  
• Forms of Hydrogen storage: Gaseous, Liquid, Solid 
• Hydrogen Safety 

Module 3: Vehicle Powertrain and Architecture (I)  

• Working principle of HPV  
• Structural components of hydrogen powered vehicles  
• Types of Fuel cells used in HPV  
• Description of the hydrogen fuel tank  
• Compare with internal combustion engine vehicles, battery electric vehicles  
• Explore fuel cell stack integration, electric drive trains and power distribution systems  
• Advantages: system efficiency, range, power delivery, thermal stability, emissions etc 

Module 4: Vehicle Powertrain and Architecture (II) 

• Considerations for vehicle weight distribution, aerodynamics, and handling 
• Computational modelling and simulation of vehicle performance 
• System integration challenges 
• Maintenance and servicing considerations 
• Case studies of real-world performance data 

Module 5: Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Production   

• Comparison of fuel cell to alternative technologies  
• Fuel cell types and their electrochemistry: 

• Fuel Cell Systems – Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) Automotive applications of PEM fuel cells  
• Materials of construction and design challenges  
• Factors to consider: cost, durability, and performance.  
• Modelling of PEM fuel cells 

Module 6: AFC, PAFC and Molten Carbonate Fuel cells  

• Production technology  
• Electrochemistry  
• Operating range (temperature) 
• HPV suitability

Module 7: Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) for Vehicles

• Overview of fuel cell
• Solid oxide fuel cells for transportation
  – Advantages and shortcomings
  – Cell configurations
• Fuel types: Hydrogen, Ammonia, Hydrocarbons and Alcohols
• Applications
• FV vehicles challenges and related efforts

Module 8: Heat Transport and Thermal Management 

• The heat in proton exchange membrane fuel cell: Heat generation and heat transport 
• Proton exchange membrane fuel cell thermal management 
• The cooling of PEM Fuel cells 
• Thermal management system 
• Control Strategy 
• Cold start 

Module 9: Fuel Cell Durability Under Automotive Driving Cycles—Fundamentals and Experiment  

• Fundamental degradation mechanisms under automotive driving cycles  
• Steady-state durability test  
• In situ accelerated stress test  
• Ex situ accelerated stress test 

Module 10: Hydrogen Refueling Stations/Infrastructure 

• Hydrogen refueling station networks  
• Challenges in hydrogen refueling stations network development  
• Challenges in establishing a hydrogen refueling infrastructure  
• Technical, regulatory and economic challenges/barriers  
• Successful models from around the world 
• Life cycle assessment of hydrogen powered vehicles – tie back in with topic 1 climate change/environmental footprint 

Module 11: Hydrogen Systems in Vehicles and Their Risk  

• Engines – hydrogen leak, ignition and dispersion 
• Liquefied hydrogen storage system  
• Fast fueling of compressed hydrogen storage containers   
• Hydrogen cylinder design and testing   
• Fuel cell safety analysis:
  – Safety and risk analysis
  – Vehicle demonstration programs
  – Regular updates in codes and standards

Module 12: Future Trends and Innovations 

• Emerging technologies in fuel cell efficiency, durability, materials, stack design etc 
• Integration with smart grids/renewable sources 
• Autonomous features in hydrogen powered vehicles 
• Commercial and industrial applications 
• Policy and regulatory frameworks

After completing this course, you will be able to:

• Discuss the demand for hydrogen, the disadvantages of fossil fuels, and future innovations of hydrogen as a transportation fuel.  
• Understand the production and storage of hydrogen, and distribution networks.  
• Understand the application of hydrogen as a transportation fuel.  
• Analyze the components and working principles of hydrogen-powered vehicles to compare their performance metrics with traditional combustion engines and battery electric vehicles.  
• Analyze the hazards and safety issues related to hydrogen powered vehicles. 

To obtain a certificate of completion for EIT’s Professional Certificate of Competency, students must achieve a 65% attendance rate at the live, online fortnightly webinars. Detailed summaries/notes can be submitted in lieu of attendance. In addition, students must obtain a mark of 60% in the set assignments which could take the form of written assignments and practical assignments. Students must also obtain a mark of 100% in quizzes. If a student does not achieve the required score, they will be given an opportunity to resubmit the assignment to obtain the required score.

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Payment Methods

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You are expected to spend approximately 5-8 hours per week learning the course content. This includes attending fortnightly webinars that run for about 90 minutes to facilitate class discussion and allow you to ask questions. This program has a 65% attendance requirement in the live webinars in order to graduate from the program.  If you are unable to attend the live webinars, you have the option of watching the recording of completed webinars and sending a summary of what you have learnt from the webinar to the Learning Support officer.  The summaries go towards your attendance requirement for the program.

This program is run online on an intensive part-time basis and has been designed to fit around full-time work. It will take three months to complete.

We understand that sometimes work commitments and personal circumstances can get in the way of your studies, so if at any point you feel that you are struggling with the pace of the course or finding a particular module challenging, you are encouraged to contact your designated Learning Support Officer for assistance.

Registrations are open for our upcoming intakes. Please ensure you book your place at least one week before the start date of the program.