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# Application of the Fuel Cell Vehicle to Support ICT in Emergency Response

Yasuhiro Soshino

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Yasuhiro Soshino. Application of the Fuel Cell Vehicle to Support ICT in Emergency Response. 7th International Conference on Information Technology in Disaster Risk Reduction (ITDRR), Oct 2022, Krisitansand, Norway. pp.89-100, 10.1007/978-3-031-34207-3_6. hal-04680546

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# Application of the Fuel Cell Vehicle to Support ICT in Emergency Response

Yasuhiro Soshino<fnref n="1" />,<fnref n="2" />[0000-0003-2926-6956]

**Abstract.** Ensuring the telecommunication services is one of the key pillars for the disaster response. However, the past studies pointed out that the lack of electricity causes significant negative effect in the service continuity of telecommunication in emergencies. Using the vehicle to establish a mobile and off-grid telecommunication site is one of the solutions in emergencies. Recently, the vehicle with the external power supply functions becomes popular as the progress of the electric vehicles in our society. Therefore, this study aims to assess the practical effectiveness of the application of the fuel cell vehicle to support the telecommunication services in emergencies. The medical fuel cell vehicle with telecommunication functions and the external power supply functions was developed. In the field test, various functions in the M-FCV such as the external power supply, the real-time image sharing, the vehicle management application were tested to support the telecommunication in emergencies. In addition, in a disaster response drill, the M-FCV was utilized to establish the field telecommunication unit by using its functions. To ensure the electricity to support the telecommunication services in emergencies, the application of fuel cell vehicles is considered as an effective solution.

**Keywords:** Fuel Cell Vehicle, Power Supply in Emergencies, ICT and Energy in Emergencies

## 1 Introduction

In the 21st century, Japan needs to respond two different types of disaster. The first type of disaster can be called as "silent disasters" such as the super aging, rapid population decrease, aging of social infrastructure, and the vulnerability in energy supply. While these silent disasters gradually increase the vulnerability against natural disasters, there is a growing concern about the occurrence of catastrophic natural disasters in Japan. Nankai Trough Earthquake and Tsunami is one of the National Crisis Disasters such as the Tokyo Inland Earthquake and the catastrophic floods in Tokyo. In addition, in 2022, the Japan Cabinet Office announced the expected damage in the future earthquake and tsunami in the northern part of Japan. According to the report,

<footnote n="1">¹ Disaster Management Research Institute, Japanese Red Cross College of Nursing, 4-1-3, Hiroo, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 150-0012, Japan</footnote>

<footnote n="2">² Japanese Red Cross Kumamoto Hospital, 2-1-1, Nagamine-minami, Higashi-ku, Kumamoto City, 861-8520, Kumamoto, Japan

y-soshino@jrcdmri.redcross.ac.jp</footnote>
approximately two hundred thousand of people may be killed by the earthquake, tsunami, and the low temperature in the disaster affected areas where the blackout is expected due to the earthquake [1]. In fact, recent natural disasters revealed the concern about the blackouts in Japan. The 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake caused the historical blackout. Due to this blackout, approximately, 140 thousand landlines were disturbed and 6,500 cellular base station stopped the services [2]. The 2019 Typhoon Faxai caused the blackout in Boso Peninsula in Chiba, Japan caused the serious blackout which disturbed 67 landline base stations and 1936 cellular base stations were affected by a major power outage [3]. Previous studies pointed out the importance of the telecommunication in emergencies. To exchange the information to coordinate relief operations, emergency networks must be sustained to operate in difficult situations [4]. Communication network outage is caused by power outage in natural disasters such as Hurricane Sandy [5]. According to the damage assessment on the communication network caused by Hurricane Katrina, one of the common vulnerable points of failure is the link between power supply and telecommunication networks. The main reason of telecommunication outages was the lack of electricity in communication site. This caused by the low availability of the backup generators [6]. For the information and telecommunication, a power blackout causes significant impact. The backup capacities such as UPS and emergency generators for key communication facilities become unusable after such reserve capacities are exhausted after a few hours or days [7]. To provide a resilient solution for the major failure caused by natural disasters, microgrids with distributed generation are effective approaches [8]. For the rapid restoration of the communication services, several studies proposed the mobile unit consist of power supply unit and communication equipment. The application of vehicles as the mobile telecommunication base stations is possible solutions since vehicles can supply the electricity [9,10].

While vehicles are used as the communication base stations in various projects, recently, electric vehicles with power supply function such as Electric Vehicles (EVs), Hybrid Vehicles (HVs), Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles (PHVs), and Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCVs) are commercialized. Among these electric vehicles, Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid, and Fuel Cell Vehicles, which can generate electricity, can be used as Mobile Power Plant even in emergencies. In particular, Fuel Cell Vehicles are free from the challenges of producing poisoning gases and large noise while fuel cell vehicles can produce large amount of electricity.

Therefore, this study aims to assess the practical effectiveness of the application of the fuel cell vehicle as the telecommunication base in emergencies. Following the introduction, section two explains the background of the medical fuel cell vehicle project by the Japanese Red Cross Kumamoto Hospital and Toyota. Section three presents the overviews of the medical fuel cell vehicle project. The results of the field tests are presented in the section four. The discussion will be described in the section five and the section six concludes this study.
## 2 Introduction

In November 2000, the Japanese Red Cross Kumamoto Hospital was firstly nominated as a hub hospital for the global medical relief activities in the Japanese Red Cross Society. After the 2001 Gujarat Earthquake, the hospital started the research and development of the field hospital equipment. Field hospital consists of various equipment to rapidly establish the basic hospital infrastructure by using tents, generators, water supply equipment, sanitation equipment and telecommunication equipment. In this sense, the field hospital is the assembly of movable infrastructure functions. While the usual hospital's infrastructure is established on the land, the field hospital's infrastructure is mobile to flexibly respond to the needs in the disaster affected areas. In addition, field hospital equipment can be used for other humanitarian purposes. For example, in the 2004 Niigata Chuetsu Earthquake, the hospital deployed the field hospital equipment to accommodate the refugees. However, in the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, the hospital faced the limitation in using the field hospital equipment to improve the living conditions of the refugees. Only one field hospital equipment was not sufficient to respond to such catastrophic disaster in the wide geographic areas.

Therefore, in 2013, the hospital proposed the "Smart Design Shelter Concept" (see Fig. 1) to prepare for the future catastrophic disasters in Japan. This concept proposes the daily uses of the mobile infrastructure such as solar batteries (see Fig. 2), water-recycling shower system, and the water-recycling toilet (see Fig. 3) system in schools, parks, stadiums, hospitals and other public facilities to be used as refugee centers in emergencies. Once disaster occurs, these mobile infrastructures can be transported to the disaster affected areas. Based on this concept, the hospital started the research and development of the mobile infrastructures and these mobile infrastructures were deployed in the 2015 Kumamoto Earthquake, 2018 Western Japan Floods, and 2020 Kumamoto Floods relief operations.

<figure><img src="image_4.png" /><figcaption>Fig. 1. The Smart Design Shelter Concept</figcaption></figure>
<figure><img src="image_5.png" /><figcaption>Fig. 2. Solar Battery in the Field Hospital</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_6.png" /><figcaption>Fig. 3. The Mobile Flush Toilet</figcaption></figure>

On the other hand, in 1992, Toyota started the development of fuel cell vehicles and the first commercial models were launched in 1996. Toyota has an idea that Eco-friendly vehicles contribute to society and environment only when the vehicles come into widespread use. Based on this idea, Toyota is trying to promote fuel cell vehicles as the solutions for the social challenges by effectively utilizing the external power supply function, which is the unique strength of the fuel cell vehicles. For example, Toyota proposed a model to utilize a Fuel Cell Bus as a community transportation in peacetime while deploy the community bus to the refugee center to supply electricity in emergencies.

In this way, both organizations shared the same approach to prepare for disasters by the daily uses of mobile infrastructures. Based on this idea, since July 2020, both organizations started the discussion on the effective utilization of fuel cell vehicles in medical services and disaster response. As a result, both organizations proposed a model to utilize a medical fuel cell vehicle for transporting the patients in peacetime while deploy the vehicle as a mobile power plant in emergencies. In this way, the joint field test on a medical fuel cell vehicle was launched in June 2021.

# 3 The Medical Fuel Cell Vehicle “Doctor Car NEO”

## 3.1 Fuel Cell Vehicles

Fuel cell vehicles run by electricity generated by the chemical reaction with Hydrogen and Oxygen in the fuel cells while they produce only water. The characteristics of fuel cell vehicles are zero emission, silent (low noises), short fuel charging time compare to electric vehicles, and the external power supply function in emergencies. In the 2018 Hokkaido Iburi Eastern Earthquake, fuel cell vehicles were deployed to the refugee center in Muroran to supply electricity for lighting equipment, television, mobile phones. In Japan, fuel cell vehicles are expected to replace the present engine vehicles toward the realization of the carbon neutral society in 2050.
## 3.2 Medical Fuel Cell Vehicle “Doctor Car NEO”

The medical fuel cell vehicle (hereafter M-FCV) “Doctor Car NEO” (see Fig. 4,5) is developed based on Toyota Coaster Minibus by using the Toyota Fuel Cell System for the fuel cell vehicle “Mirai” as its power source. Compared to the hospital’s medical vehicle based on Toyota Coaster Minibus with the diesel engine, the medical fuel cell vehicle enjoys a low-noise and low-vibration driving experience.

The M-FCV has the external power supply function (9kW maximum output, approximately 90kWh supply capacity). To supply the better quality of electricity for the medical equipment, a medical UPS is installed in the power supply system. For the infection control in the vehicle, M-FCV introduced an air conditioning system with an exhaust system with HEPA filter.

<figure><img src="image_7.png" /><figcaption>Fig. 4. The Medical Fuel Cell Vehicle “Doctor Car NEO”</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_8.png" /><figcaption>Fig. 5. The Treatment Room in the M-FCV</figcaption></figure>
## 3.3 Technical Features

**Power Supply.** Fig. 6 shows the external power supply functions in the M-FCV. The Fuel Cell System provides electricity to the outlets installed inside and outside of the vehicle. On the outside of the vehicle at each side, there are external outlets for the power supply to medical equipment and other instrument in emergencies. One receptacle is also equipped to receive the shore power. To provide better quality of the electricity to medical equipment, the vehicle has a medical UPS connected to the inside and outside outlets. One DC outlet for rapid charging is also installed. two levels of headings should be numbered.

<figure><img src="image_9.png" /><figcaption>**Fig. 6.** The External Power Supply Functions</figcaption></figure>

**Image Sharing System.** Fig. 7 shows the image sharing system which links between the M-FCV and the hospital in transporting the patient. In emergencies, the M-FCV functions the mobile on-site headquarters by using this system. The M-FCV has two cameras which is installed behind the windscreen to capture the images around the vehicle and in the treatment space to share the condition of the patient. In emergencies, the camera in the treatment room could be used for tele-meeting with other stakeholders in relief operation. The vehicle has three large monitors to show the present location of the vehicle and other information such as the patient' physical information by the medical monitor. The Wi-Fi router is equipped in the vehicle for internet communication. In emergencies, the mobile satellite phones can be installed to ensure the internet communication in the disaster affected areas by supplying electricity from the M-FCV.
<figure><img src="image_10.png" /><figcaption>Fig. 7. The Brief Overview of the image sharing system</figcaption></figure>

**Vehicle Management Application.** Fig. 8 shows the image of the vehicle management application. This application shares the information on the present location, destination, amount of fuel, possible mileage or external power supply, and the location of the Hydrogen Stations. In addition, this application links with the other application for supporting the matching between the owners of the external power supply vehicles and the disaster affected people who want the power supply supports.

<figure><img src="image_11.png" /><figcaption>Fig. 8. The Vehicle Management Application</figcaption></figure>
# 4 Field Tests

## 4.1 External Power Supply

As a pilot project of the M-FCV, in December 2020, the Japanese Red Cross Kumamoto Hospital jointly conducted a field test on the application of the external power supply vehicle for a medical cargo drone operation to deliver the blood from the referral hospital to a clinic in an island. In this test, two hybrid vehicles (see Fig. 9) with the external power supply functions were deployed by Toyota Kyushu to the referral hospital and an island to provide electricity with the field drone operation rooms and the batteries of the medical cargo drone. In emergency operations of humanitarian drones, the availability of the power supply to drones is one of the most serious challenges. By effectively utilizing the vehicle with the external power supply function, humanitarian drones can be flexibly dispatched even from the point where the electricity is not available.

<figure><img src="image_12.png" /><figcaption>Fig. 9. Battery Charing by using the external power supply function of the vehicle</figcaption></figure>

## 4.2 Image Sharing System

In July 2021, the field test of the image sharing system was conducted in Mt. Aso region, where the severe floods struck in 2012. In this field test, the movies captured by two cameras, which are installed behind the windscreen and in the treatment room, were shared with the operation room at the Japanese Red Cross Kumamoto Hospital with the real-time location of the M-FCV (see Fig. 10). The quality of the movies largely depends on the connectivity of the mobile phone transmission, however, as long as the connection is ensured, the movie and photos are clearly shown in the laps tops at the operation room of the hospital. In the 2011 Great East Japan and Tsunami disaster response, the hospital deployed the medical relief convoys to the disaster affected areas. On the way, the deployed medical team had to stop to report the pre- sent locations and the road conditions to the headquarters in the hospital. By using the image sharing system, the information sharing between the deployed relief team and the headquarters could become easy as long as the telecommunication is available.
<figure><img src="image_13.png" /><figcaption>Fig. 10. The field test of the real-time image sharing system in the M-FCV</figcaption></figure>

## 4.3 Vehicle Management Application

In November 2021, the field test of the vehicle management application (see Fig. 11) was conducted by deploying the M-FCV and a hybrid vehicle with the external power supply function. By using the application, the power supply support by the M-FCV and the hybrid vehicle was requested from two places in Nanjo City of Okinawa. The M-FCV was deployed to the Nanjo City Hall and the hybrid vehicle was deployed to an island of Kudaka. In the past disaster response by using the vehicle with the external power supply function, there were several problems such as the needs matching between the disaster affected people and the power supply vehicles, monitoring of the location and the fuel consumption of the power supply vehicles, and the decision making of the appropriate schedule to deploy the replacing vehicles for refueling. The vehicle management would be a new solution for these challenges on vehicle management in emergencies.

<figure><img src="image_14.png" /><figcaption>Fig. 11. The vehicle management application</figcaption></figure>
## 4.4 The Mobile Telecommunication Unit

To examine the possibility to utilize the telecommunication system in the M-FCV, the vehicle was deployed to the disaster response drill in Nanjo City of Okinawa in November 2021. In this drill, the M-FCV was used as an on-site emergency headquarters by using the space and the telecommunication system. A main monitor in the M-FCV showed the movie taken by an assessment drone (see Fig. 12), the location of the other external power supply vehicles (see Fig. 13), and the disaster response information system. Furthermore, the external power supply function of the M-FCV was utilized to establish the triage post. In addition to support these ICT functions, by using the external power supply function, the M-FCV can supply the electricity to the mobile satellite phones and the mobile satellite unit such as V-SAT which needs the large amount of electricity to ensure the large data transmission in the disaster affected areas.

<figure><img src="image_15.png" /><figcaption>Fig. 12. The movie captured by a drone</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_16.png" /><figcaption>Fig. 13. The vehicle management system</figcaption></figure>

## 5 Discussions

This study aimed to assess the practical effectiveness of the application of fuel cell vehicles to support the ICT services in emergencies. The field tests of the M-FCV identified the practical value of fuel cell vehicles to support the ICT services in emergencies with its unique external power supply function. While the recent study proposed the utilization of the electric vehicle to establish the information network in emergencies [11], this study presented the new approach by using the fuel cell vehicles. Different from electric vehicles, fuel cell vehicles can generate the large amount of electricity which is useful to support ICT equipment which requires large power supply in emergencies. In addition, compared to the conventional emergency telecommunication vehicles with engines and generators, the application of fuel cell vehicles can alleviate the stress of the disaster affected people and relief workers by reducing the annoying noises and exhaust gas. Furthermore, the application of fuel cell vehicles contributes to reduce the incidents in disaster affected areas caused by generators and vehicles. In the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, uses of electric generators caused a number of carbon monoxide cases [12]. Therefore, by the application of fuel cell vehicles, which can supply electricity without producing
the toxic gas, the number of the carbon monoxide poisoning cases can be decreased in
disaster affected areas especially in winter.

In terms of the environmentally friendly disaster response, fuel cell vehicles are pos-
sible solution to achieve the carbon neutral in emergency response. In 2021, Interna-
tional Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) and International Federation of Red Cross and
Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) adopted the Climate and Environment Charter for
Humanitarian Organizations. This charter encourages all the humanitarian charter to
adapt the changes of disasters caused by the climate change, and to mitigate the im-
pact on environment caused by the activities of humanitarian organizations them-
selves [13].

The limitation of this study is the lack of the deployments in the real disaster response
operations. Therefore, the serious challenges in the supply chain management of hy-
drogen in emergencies is not tested in this study. In fact, even in peacetime, quite
limited number of fuel cell stations are available in Japan. The supply of hydrogen
should be maintained even in emergencies if relief organizations seriously want to
deploy fuel cell vehicles in the disaster affected areas. Furthermore, this study did not
try the power supply from the M-FCV to the actual ICT service facilities such as mo-
bile phone hubs. Further field tests are required to confirm the effectiveness of fuel
cell vehicles to support the existing telecommunication facilities. For example, in
Japan, pre-install of the V2H (Vehicle to Home) system in public facilities is pro-
posed to ensure the power supply by fuel cell vehicles, electric vehicles and other
vehicles with the external power supply functions. By pre-install of the power receiv-
ing facility from fuel cell vehicles, the resilience of telecommunication facilities can
be enhanced.

6 Conclusion

This study aimed to assess the practical effectiveness of the application of fuel cell
vehicles as the telecommunication base to support ICT in emergencies. The field tests
of the M-FCV with the ICT functions and the external power supply functions re-
vealed the effectiveness of the M-FCV as a movable telecommunication hub in the
disaster affected areas. As fuel cell vehicles are widely used in communities, they
become the practical solutions to support ICT services in emergencies. In this sense,
the application of fuel cell vehicles is one of the future solutions to ensure the ICT
service continuity in emergencies that contributes the realization of the resilient and
sustainable society.

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