Patent ID: 8501361
Filing Date: 2013-08-06
Classification: B60L,H01M,Y02E,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A method of controlling operation of a vehicular power source unit, said method comprising: detecting a state of a fuel cell using a fuel cell state detecting element; detecting a state of an electric accumulator using an electric accumulator state detecting element; determining that a vehicle powered by the vehicular power source unit is stopped; determining that a supply of reactant gas to the fuel cell is stopped; determining that an external power source is connected to the vehicular power source unit; controlling operation of a heater and a recharger by electric power supplied from the external power source, based upon the detected state of the fuel cell, the detected state of the electric accumulator, the determining that the vehicle is stopped, the determining that the supply is stopped, and the determining the external power source is connected; scavenging the reactant gas remaining in the fuel cell at a predetermined time after the supply of reactant gas to the fuel cell is stopped; determining whether or not the scavenging has been performed on the fuel cell; detecting a temperature of the fuel cell; and when the scavenging has not been performed on the fuel cell, charging the electric accumulator by the recharger and prohibiting heating of the fuel cell, and, when the scavenging action has been performed on the fuel cell, heating the fuel cell by the heater and charging the electric accumulator by the recharger; determining if the temperature of the fuel cell is equal to or lower than a pre-defined temperature when the vehicle is stopped, and stopping the supply of reactant gas to the fuel cell by the fuel controlling element.