Patent Publication Number: US-2020303759-A1

Title: Fuel cell vehicle

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-050226 filed on Mar. 18, 2019, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a fuel cell vehicle equipped with a fuel cell stack having an end plate that applies a tightening load with respect to a cell stack including a plurality of power generation cells that are stacked in a stacking direction of the cell stack. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     For example, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2017-074934, a configuration is disclosed in which a fuel cell stack is disposed in a front box (motor room) of a fuel cell vehicle. A mounting bracket (right side bracket) is fastened by bolts to an end plate of the fuel cell stack (see FIG. 3 of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2017-074934). In such a case, the end plate can be reinforced by the bracket. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     However, in above-described Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2017-074934, the shape of the bracket as viewed from the stacking direction (vehicle widthwise direction) of the power generation cells, and the fastening position of the bracket in a vertical direction of the end plate are not shown. 
     Further, in the case that a fuel cell vehicle is involved in a collision, the fuel cell stack and the bracket move relative to the vehicle body inside the front box. More specifically, for example, in the case that the fuel cell vehicle is involved in a rear-end collision, the fuel cell stack and the bracket move relative to the vehicle body in a vehicle rearward direction inside the front box. Therefore, it is desirable that the bracket be provided on the fuel cell stack with a shape and position so as not to interfere with a vehicle body component at the time of a vehicle collision. 
     The present invention has been devised taking into consideration such a problem, and has the object of providing a fuel cell vehicle in which an end plate can easily be reinforced, and interference between a bracket and a vehicle component at the time of a vehicle collision can be effectively suppressed. 
     An aspect of the present invention is characterized by a fuel cell vehicle, the fuel cell vehicle comprising a fuel cell stack and a mounting bracket, the fuel cell stack having an end plate configured to apply a tightening load to a cell stack including a plurality of power generation cells that are mutually stacked, the tightening load being applied in a stacking direction of the cell stack, and the mounting bracket being provided for the end plate, wherein the fuel cell stack is disposed in a manner so that the stacking direction is oriented in a vehicle widthwise direction, the end plate extends in a transverse direction, and the bracket is disposed near one end in the transverse direction of the end plate and at a portion on a lower side thereof, the bracket being formed in a triangular shape when viewed from the stacking direction. 
     According to the present invention, since the bracket is provided on the end plate, the end plate can be easily reinforced by the bracket. Further, the bracket is disposed at a portion on the lower side near the one end in the transverse direction of the end plate, and is formed in a triangular shape when viewed from the stacking direction of the cell stack. Therefore, a comparatively wide space can be secured around the periphery of the bracket (in particular, on the other end side of the end plate in the transverse direction with respect to the bracket). Owing to this feature, the vehicle body component can be positioned in the aforementioned space around the periphery of the bracket at the time of a vehicle collision. Accordingly, interference between the bracket and the vehicle body component at the time of a vehicle collision can be effectively suppressed. 
     The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic structural explanatory view of a fuel cell vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view with partial omission of a fuel cell stack and a bracket of  FIG. 1  as viewed from a right side of the vehicle; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of the fuel cell stack and the bracket of  FIG. 1  as viewed from the right side of the vehicle; and 
         FIG. 4  is an explanatory diagram showing a positional relationship between the bracket and a vehicle body component when the fuel cell stack is moved. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a fuel cell vehicle according to the present invention will be presented and described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     In each of the drawings, with a fuel cell vehicle  10  serving as a standard, as viewed from the perspective of the driver, a left side of the fuel cell vehicle  10  is indicated by the arrow “L”, a right side of the fuel cell vehicle  10  is indicated by the arrow “R”, a frontward direction (front side) of the fuel cell vehicle  10  is indicated by the arrow “Fr”, a rearward direction (rear side) of the fuel cell vehicle  10  is indicated by the arrow “Rr”, an upward direction of the fuel cell vehicle  10  is indicated by the arrow “U”, and a downward direction of the fuel cell vehicle  10  is indicated by the arrow “D”. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the fuel cell vehicle  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention, for example, is a fuel cell electric vehicle. The fuel cell vehicle  10  is equipped with a fuel cell stack  16  disposed inside a front box  14  (motor room) that is formed in front (on a front side) of a dashboard  12 , and a mounting bracket  20  for fixing the fuel cell stack  16  to a mounting member  18  (body frame). The front box  14  is provided between the left and right front wheels  22 L and  22 R. Inside the front box  14 , in addition to the fuel cell stack  16 , a non-illustrated motor for driving the vehicle is arranged. 
     The fuel cell stack  16  includes a cell stack  24 , a stack case  26 , an auxiliary equipment case  28 , and an end plate  30 . The cell stack  24  is formed by stacking a plurality of power generation cells  32  in one direction (a vehicle widthwise direction, a left/right transverse direction). Each of the power generation cells  32  includes a membrane electrode assembly  34 , and a pair of separators  36  and  38  that sandwich the membrane electrode assembly  34  from both sides. 
     The membrane electrode assembly  34  includes, for example, a solid polymer electrolyte membrane  40 , a cathode  42  provided on one surface  40   a  of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane  40 , and an anode  44  provided on another surface  40   b  of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane  40 . The solid polymer electrolyte membrane  40  is a thin membrane of perfluorosulfonic acid containing water. In addition to a fluorine based electrolyte, an HC (hydrocarbon) based electrolyte may be used for the solid polymer electrolyte membrane  40 . 
     The separators  36  and  38  are made by press forming into a wavy or corrugated shape the cross sections of metal plates, for example, such as steel plates, stainless steel plates, aluminum plates, plated steel sheets, or metal plates having anti-corrosive surfaces produced by performing a surface treatment thereon. The separators  36  and  38  may be constituted by carbon members. 
     An oxygen-containing gas flow field  46  through which an oxygen-containing gas (for example, air) flows is formed on a surface of the separator  36  facing toward the cathode  42 . A fuel gas flow field  48  through which a fuel gas (for example, hydrogen gas) flows is formed on a surface of the separator  38  facing toward the anode  44 . A coolant flow field  50  through which a coolant flows is formed between mutually adjacent ones of the separators  36  and  38 . 
     The oxygen-containing gas is supplied to the cathodes  42 . The fuel gas is supplied to the anodes  44 . The power generation cells  32  generate electrical power by electrochemical reactions taking place between the oxygen-containing gas supplied to the cathodes  42  and the fuel gas supplied to the anodes  44 . 
     At one end (an end in the direction of the arrow L) in the stacking direction of the cell stack  24 , a first terminal plate  52  and a first insulating plate  54  are sequentially arranged in an outward direction. At another end (an end in the direction of the arrow R) in the stacking direction of the cell stack  24 , a second terminal plate  56  and a second insulating plate  58  are sequentially arranged in an outward direction. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the stack case  26  has a quadrangular tubular shape extending along the vehicle widthwise direction. The stack case  26  covers the cell stack  24  from upper and lower directions and front and rear directions thereof. In  FIG. 1 , the auxiliary equipment case  28  is a protective case for protecting fuel cell auxiliary equipment  60 , and is fixed to the one end (the end in the direction of the arrow L) of the stack case  26 . A fuel gas system device and an oxygen-containing gas system device are accommodated as the fuel cell auxiliary equipment  60  inside the auxiliary equipment case  28 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the end plate  30  is fixed to the other end (the end in the direction of the arrow R) of the stack case  26  so as to close the opening at the other end of the stack case  26 . Stated otherwise, the end plate  30  is fastened by a plurality of bolts  61  to the other end surface of the stack case  26 . The end plate  30  applies a tightening load to the cell stack  24  in the stacking direction. Moreover, although omitted from illustration, a seal member made of an elastic material is disposed between the stack case  26  and the end plate  30  over the entire periphery of a joining surface between the stack case  26  and the end plate  30 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the end plate  30  is a rectangular metal plate having a horizontally elongate shape. The end plate  30  extends in a transverse direction of the end plate  30  (vehicle longitudinal direction) which is perpendicular to the stacking direction of the cell stack  24  and the vertical direction. 
     On an outer surface of the end plate  30  (an outer surface oriented in the direction of the arrow R), ribs  64  are provided that protrude outward (in a direction opposite to the stack case  26 ). The ribs  64  include an outer peripheral rib  66 , a center rib  68 , a first linear rib  70   a , a second linear rib  70   b , a third linear rib  70   c , a fourth linear rib  70   d , a fifth linear rib  70   e , a sixth linear rib  70   f , and a mounting rib  72 . 
     The outer peripheral rib  66  extends once peripherally along an outer peripheral edge portion of the end plate  30 . The outer peripheral rib  66  has a quadrangular annular shape (quadrangular frame shape). The outer peripheral rib  66  includes an upper rib  66   a , a lower rib  66   b , a first side rib  66   c , and a second side rib  66   d . The upper rib  66   a  extends over the entire length of the end plate  30  in the transverse direction (vehicle longitudinal direction) along the upper side of the end plate  30 . 
     The lower rib  66   b  extends over the entire length of the end plate  30  in the transverse direction (vehicle longitudinal direction) along the lower side of the end plate  30 . The first side rib  66   c  extends along the side of the end plate  30  on the vehicle front side (in the direction of the arrow Fr) over the entire length of the end plate  30  in the vertical direction. The second side rib  66   d  extends along the side of the end plate  30  on the vehicle rear side (in the direction of the arrow Rr) over the entire length of the end plate  30  in the vertical direction. 
     The center rib  68  is positioned substantially in a central portion of the outer surface of the end plate  30 . Owing to this feature, it is possible for a central portion of the end plate  30 , which can be easily deformed by a reaction force of the tightening load that acts on the cell stack  24 , to be reinforced by the center rib  68 . 
     The first linear rib  70   a  extends linearly from the center rib  68  to an upper corner portion (a connected location of the upper rib  66   a  and the first side rib  66   c ) on one end side (in the direction of the arrow Fr) of the end plate  30 . The second linear rib  70   b  extends linearly along the direction of the arrow U from the center rib  68  to a central portion of the upper rib  66   a  in the vehicle longitudinal direction (in the transverse direction of the end plate  30 ). The third linear rib  70   c  extends linearly from the center rib  68  to an upper corner portion (a connected location of the upper rib  66   a  and the second side rib  66   d ) on another end side (in the direction of the arrow Rr) of the end plate  30 . 
     The fourth linear rib  70   d  extends linearly from the center rib  68  to a lower corner portion (a connected location of the lower rib  66   b  and the first side rib  66   c ) on the one end side (in the direction of the arrow Fr) of the end plate  30 . The fifth linear rib  70   e  extends linearly along the direction of the arrow D from the center rib  68  to a central portion of the lower rib  66   b  in the vehicle longitudinal direction (in the transverse direction of the end plate  30 ). The sixth linear rib  70   f  extends linearly from the center rib  68  to a lower corner portion (a connected location of the lower rib  66   b  and the second side rib  66   d ) on the other end side (in the direction of the arrow Rr) of the end plate  30 . 
     In the manner described above, the first linear rib  70   a , the second linear rib  70   b , the third linear rib  70   c , the fourth linear rib  70   d , the fifth linear rib  70   e , and the sixth linear rib  70   f  are formed on the end plate  30 . Consequently, deformation of the end plate  30  due to the reaction force of the tightening load applied to the cell stack  24  can be further suppressed. Further, the first linear rib  70   a , the second linear rib  70   b , the third linear rib  70   c , the fourth linear rib  70   d , the fifth linear rib  70   e , and the sixth linear rib  70   f  are connected to the center rib  68 . Owing to this feature, the central portion of the end plate  30  can be further reinforced. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the mounting rib  72  is positioned near one end in the transverse direction (closer to the vehicle front side) and on the lower side of the end plate  30 . Stated otherwise, the mounting rib  72  is shifted more to one end side in the transverse direction (in the frontward direction of the vehicle, or on the vehicle front side) than the center of the end plate  30 . The mounting rib  72  is formed in a triangular shape when viewed from the stacking direction (the direction of the arrow R) of the cell stack  24 . A flat contact surface  74 , which has a substantially triangular shaped outer periphery with a constant width that is contacted by the bracket  20 , is formed on the mounting rib  72 . The mounting rib  72  includes a first vertex  72   a , a second vertex  72   b , and a third vertex  72   c.    
     A first screw hole  76   a  is formed in the first vertex  72   a . The first vertex  72   a  protrudes outwardly (in the direction of the arrow R) from the first side rib  66   c  in the stacking direction of the cell stack  24 . Consequently, the first vertex  72   a  in which the first screw hole  76   a  is formed can be reinforced by the first side rib  66   c.    
     A second screw hole  76   b  is formed in the second vertex  72   b . The second vertex  72   b  protrudes outwardly (in the direction of the arrow R) from the lower rib  66   b  in the stacking direction of the cell stack  24 . Consequently, the second vertex  72   b  in which the second screw hole  76   b  is formed can be reinforced by the lower rib  66   b.    
     A third screw hole  76   c  is formed in the third vertex  72   c . The third vertex  72   c  protrudes outwardly (in the direction of the arrow R) from the fifth linear rib  70   e  in the stacking direction of the cell stack  24 . Consequently, the third vertex  72   c  in which the third screw hole  76   c  is formed can be reinforced by the fifth linear rib  70   e . The third screw hole  76   c  is located substantially at the center in the transverse direction of the end plate  30 . Stated otherwise, the third screw hole  76   c  is located in proximity to (downwardly of) the center rib  68 . 
     A fourth linear rib  70   d  is connected to the mounting rib  72 . More specifically, the mounting rib  72  is connected to the center rib  68  via the fourth linear rib  70   d . Consequently, the center rib  68  can be reinforced by the mounting rib  72 . Thus, the central portion of the end plate  30  can be more effectively reinforced. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the bracket  20  serves to fix the fuel cell stack  16  with respect to the mounting member  18  (see  FIG. 3 ) of the fuel cell vehicle  10 . The bracket  20  is disposed with respect to the mounting rib  72  of the end plate  30 . The bracket  20  is disposed on a portion that is near to the one end in the transverse direction (closer to the vehicle front side) and on the lower side of the end plate  30 . 
     The bracket  20  is formed in a triangular shape when viewed from the stacking direction (the direction of the arrow R) of the cell stack  24 . The bracket  20  includes a bracket main body  80 , and a mount part  82  provided on the bracket main body  80 . The bracket main body  80  is a triangular plate-shaped member. A substantially triangular shaped flat joining surface  84  (see  FIG. 2 ), which contacts the contact surface  74  of the mounting rib  72 , is formed on the bracket main body  80 . The joining surface  84  is formed in a triangular shape corresponding to the shape of the bracket  20  as viewed from the stacking direction of the cell stack  24 . The bracket main body  80  includes a first vertex  80   a , a second vertex  80   b , and a third vertex  80   c.    
     In the first vertex  80   a , a first insertion hole  86   a  is formed, through which there is inserted a first bolt  88   a  that is screw-engaged with the first screw hole  76   a  of the mounting rib  72 . In the second vertex  80   b , a second insertion hole  86   b  is formed, through which there is inserted a second bolt  88   b  that is screw-engaged with the second screw hole  76   b  of the mounting rib  72 . In the third vertex  80   c , a third insertion hole  86   c  is formed, through which there is inserted a third bolt  88   c  that is screw-engaged with the third screw hole  76   c  of the mounting rib  72 . The first bolt  88   a , the second bolt  88   b , and the third bolt  88   c  are fastening members for fastening the bracket  20  with respect to the end plate  30 . Consequently, the bracket  20  can be firmly attached to the end plate  30 . Such a bracket  20  is also provided on the auxiliary equipment case  28 . 
     Instead of using the fastening members (the first bolt  88   a , the second bolt  88   b , and the third bolt  88   c ), the bracket  20  may be joined (fastened) with respect to the end plate  30  by rivets, welding, brazing, caulking, or the like. Further, stud bolts may be provided on the side of the end plate  30 , and fastening may be performed by way of nuts from the side of the bracket  20 . 
     The mount part  82  protrudes from the bracket main body  80  toward the opposite side (in the direction of the arrow R) from the end plate  30 . The mount part  82  is fastened by fixing bolts  90  with respect to the mounting member  18  of the fuel cell vehicle  10 . 
     The fixing bolts  90  are positioned inwardly of the triangular shape that connects the first bolt  88   a , the second bolt  88   b , and the third bolt  88   c , when viewed from the stacking direction (in the direction of the arrow R) of the cell stack  24 . Owing to this feature, the fuel cell stack  16  can be firmly fixed to the mounting member  18  by the bracket  20 . The number, size, and positions of the fixing bolts  90  may be set appropriately. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a vehicle body component  92  (a brake component, a hydraulic cylinder, or the like) is disposed inside the front box  14  of the fuel cell vehicle  10  on a vehicle rear side of the bracket  20 . 
     The first vertex  72   a  of the mounting rib  72  is provided integrally with the first side rib  66   c . The first vertex  80   a  of the bracket main body  80  is fastened by the first bolt  88   a  to the first vertex  72   a  (and the first side rib  66   c ) of the mounting rib  72 . Consequently, the first side rib  66   c  of the end plate  30  can be reinforced by the first vertex  72   a  of the mounting rib  72  and the first vertex  80   a  of the bracket main body  80 . 
     The second vertex  72   b  of the mounting rib  72  is provided integrally with the lower rib  66   b . The second vertex  80   b  of the bracket main body  80  is fastened by the second bolt  88   b  to the second vertex  72   b  (and the lower rib  66   b ) of the mounting rib  72 . Consequently, the lower rib  66   b  of the end plate  30  can be reinforced by the second vertex  72   b  of the mounting rib  72  and the second vertex  80   b  of the bracket main body  80 . 
     The first vertex  72   a  and the second vertex  72   b  of the mounting rib  72  are disposed on two different sides (the lower rib  66   b  and the first side rib  66   c ) of the outer peripheral rib  66 . The first vertex  80   a  and the second vertex  80   b  of the bracket main body  80  are fastened by the first bolt  88   a  and the second bolt  88   b  to the two different sides (the lower rib  66   b  and the first side rib  66   c ) of the outer peripheral rib  66 . Owing to this feature, deformation of the end plate  30  (deformation due to the reaction force of the tightening load applied to the cell stack  24 ) can be effectively suppressed. 
     The shape, the size, and the positions of the ribs  64  can be appropriately changed. The first vertex  72   a  and the second vertex  72   b  of the mounting rib  72  may protrude outwardly in the stacking direction of the cell stack  24  from one side (for example, the lower rib  66   b  or the first side rib  66   c ) of the outer peripheral rib  66 . In this case, the first vertex  80   a  and the second vertex  80   b  of the bracket main body  80  are fastened by the first bolt  88   a  and the second bolt  88   b  to one side (for example, the lower rib  66   b  or the first side rib  66   c ) of the outer peripheral rib  66 . 
     The third vertex  72   c  of the mounting rib  72  may protrude outwardly in the stacking direction of the cell stack  24  from the center rib  68 . In this case, the third vertex  80   c  of the bracket main body  80  is fastened by the third bolt  88   c  to the third vertex  72   c  (and the center rib  68 ) of the mounting rib  72 . Consequently, the center rib  68  can be more effectively reinforced by the mounting rib  72  and the bracket  20 . 
     At least one of the outer peripheral rib  66 , the first linear rib  70   a , the second linear rib  70   b , the third linear rib  70   c , the fourth linear rib  70   d , the fifth linear rib  70   e , and the sixth linear rib  70   f  need not necessarily be formed on the end plate  30 . Further, the ribs  64  need not necessarily be formed on the end plate  30 . 
     In this case, the fuel cell vehicle  10  according to the present embodiment exhibits the following advantageous effects. 
     In the fuel cell vehicle  10 , since the bracket  20  is provided on the end plate  30 , the end plate  30  can be easily reinforced by the bracket  20 . 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 4 , for example, when the fuel cell vehicle  10  is involved in a rear-end collision, the fuel cell stack  16  and the bracket  20  move relative to the vehicle body inside the front box  14  in the vehicle rearward direction (in the direction of the arrow Rr). In addition, a rear surface  26   a  of the stack case  26  of the fuel cell stack  16  moves toward the dashboard  12 . 
     However, the bracket  20  is disposed at a portion that is near to the one end in the transverse direction (closer to the vehicle front side) and on the lower side of the end plate  30 , together with being formed in a triangular shape when viewed from the stacking direction of the cell stack  24 . Therefore, at the time of a rear-end collision of the fuel cell vehicle  10 , the vehicle body component  92  can be positioned in a comparatively wide space on the vehicle rear side of the bracket  20  (on the other end side in the transverse direction of the end plate  30 ). Accordingly, interference between the bracket  20  and the vehicle body component  92  at the time of a rear-end collision (during a collision) of the fuel cell vehicle  10  can be effectively suppressed. 
     The bracket  20  is fastened with respect to the end plate  30  by fastening members (the first bolt  88   a , the second bolt  88   b , and the third bolt  88   c ). The fastening members (the first bolt  88   a , the second bolt  88   b , and the third bolt  88   c ) are disposed at the respective vertices (the first vertex  80   a , the second vertex  80   b , and the third vertex  80   c ) of the triangular shape of the bracket main body  80 . 
     In accordance with such a configuration, the bracket  20  can be firmly and easily attached with respect to the end plate  30 . 
     The fuel cell stack  16  is arranged inside the front box  14  provided on the vehicle front side of the dashboard  12 , and the bracket  20  is provided for the end plate  30  near the vehicle front side. The vehicle body component  92  is arranged on the vehicle rear side of the bracket  20  inside the front box  14 . 
     In accordance with such a configuration, at the time of a rear-end collision of the fuel cell vehicle  10 , the vehicle body component  92  can be positioned in the comparatively wide space on the vehicle rear side of the bracket  20 , and interference between the bracket  20  and the vehicle body component  92  can be suppressed. 
     The mounting rib  72  is formed on a portion of the end plate  30  that is contacted by the bracket  20 . 
     In accordance with such a configuration, the portion of the end plate  30  to which the bracket  20  is attached can be reinforced. 
     The center rib  68  is formed in a substantially central portion of the end plate  30 . The mounting rib  72  is connected to the center rib  68  via the intermediate ribs (the fourth linear rib  70   d  and the fifth linear rib  70   e ). 
     In accordance with such a configuration, it is possible for the central portion of the end plate  30 , which can be easily deformed by a reaction force of the tightening load that acts on the cell stack  24 , to be reinforced by the center rib  68 . Further, the center rib  68  can be reinforced by the mounting rib  72 . 
     The joining surface  84  of the bracket  20  that is joined to the end plate  30  is formed in a triangular shape corresponding to the shape of the bracket  20  as viewed from the stacking direction. 
     In accordance with such a configuration, the reaction force of the tightening load that acts on the cell stack  24  can be received by the joining surface  84  of the bracket  20 . Consequently, the end plate  30  can be effectively reinforced. Thus, it becomes possible for the thickness of the end plate  30  to be kept relatively thin. 
     The present invention is not limited to the configuration described above. The mounting rib  72  may be formed to be larger than the bracket  20  when viewed from the stacking direction of the cell stack  24 . 
     The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications may be made thereto without deviating from the essential scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
     The embodiment described above can be summarized in the following manner. 
     In the above described-embodiment, the fuel cell vehicle ( 10 ) is disclosed, the fuel cell vehicle ( 10 ) comprising the fuel cell stack ( 16 ) and the mounting bracket ( 20 ), the fuel cell stack ( 16 ) having the end plate ( 30 ) configured to apply the tightening load to the cell stack ( 24 ) including the plurality of power generation cells ( 32 ) that are mutually stacked, the tightening load being applied in the stacking direction of the cell stack ( 24 ), and the mounting bracket ( 20 ) being provided for the end plate ( 30 ), wherein the fuel cell stack ( 16 ) is disposed in a manner so that the stacking direction is oriented in a vehicle widthwise direction, the end plate ( 30 ) extends in a transverse direction, and the bracket ( 20 ) is disposed near one end in the transverse direction of the end plate ( 30 ) and at a portion on a lower side thereof, the bracket ( 20 ) being formed in a triangular shape when viewed from the stacking direction. 
     The bracket ( 20 ) may be fastened to the end plate ( 30 ) by the fastening members ( 88   a  to  88   c ), the fastening members ( 88   a  to  88   c ) being disposed at the respective vertices ( 80   a  to  80   c ) of the triangular shape. 
     The fuel cell stack ( 16 ) may be arranged inside the front box ( 14 ) provided on the vehicle front side of the dashboard ( 12 ), the bracket ( 20 ) may be provided for the end plate ( 30 ) near the vehicle front side, and the vehicle body component ( 92 ) may be arranged on the vehicle rear side of the bracket ( 20 ) inside the front box ( 14 ). 
     The mounting rib ( 72 ) may be formed on a portion of the end plate ( 30 ) that is contacted by the bracket ( 20 ). 
     The center rib ( 68 ) may be formed in a substantially central portion of the end plate ( 30 ), and the mounting rib ( 72 ) may be connected to the center rib ( 68 ) via the intermediate rib ( 70   d ,  70   e ). 
     The joining surface ( 84 ) of the bracket ( 20 ) that is joined to the end plate ( 30 ) may be formed in a triangular shape corresponding to the shape of the bracket ( 20 ) as viewed from the stacking direction.