Patent ID: 6975091

Claim:
A method for selectively providing drive power to a load in a fuel cell hybrid vehicle having a fuel cell stack and a battery, the method comprising: receiving a first control signal at a controller; based on the first control signal, conducting a first action of opening or closing a first switching unit, the first switching unit having one terminal in electrical communication with an anode of the fuel cell stack and with an anode of the battery in parallel, and a second terminal in electrical communication with the load; based on the first control signal, conducting a second action of opening or closing a second switching unit, the second switching unit having a first terminal in electrical communication with the load and with a cathode of the battery in parallel, and a second terminal in electrical communication with a cathode of the fuel cell stack; wherein the first control signal determines which of the fuel cell stack or the battery provides the drive power to the load, and wherein, when the first action is closing and the second action is closing, the drive power is provided from the fuel cell stack to the load.