Patent ID: 7147072

Claim:
A hybrid powertrain system comprising a combustion engine coupled to a motor to mechanically drive the motor; a battery buffer for providing power to electrically drive the motor; a solid oxide fuel cell unit having a plurality of fuel cells for providing power to electrically drive the motor; and a power transfer control unit disposed between the combustion engine and the motor for selectively providing (i) pure electric power directly from the battery buffer to the motor during a fuel cell warm up period wherein the fuel cell is not generating a sufficient amount of power for use in the hybrid Powertrain system and (ii) pure mechanical propulsion directly from the combustion engine to the motor during a fuel cell warm up period wherein the fuel cell is not generating a sufficient amount of power for use in the hybrid Powertrain system, wherein the hybrid powertrain is disposed within a vehicle and the power provided to the motor is solely provided by the solid oxide fuel cell unit when the vehicle is traveling a speed within a range of 40 through 50 mph.