Patent ID: 6924050

Claim:
A method for dissipating electrical power in a vehicle having a fuel cell power system for generating electricity and having a regenerative braking system for converting kinetic energy into electrical energy, and said vehicle having an electrical power storage device for storing electrical energy from said regenerative braking system and for solving electrical energy to a motor in a drive train of said vehicle; said fuel cell power system including a fuel cell stack of at least one fuel cell for generating electric power and a compressor for delivering gas containing oxygen to said fuel cell stack, said method comprising: determining an amount of said electrical power to be dissipated by summing the minimum amount of electrical power that can be generated by said fuel cell system and said regenerative braking system, and subtracting an amount of electrical power required by said vehicle and subtracting the amount of electrical power capable of being stored in said electrical power storage device; operating said compressor to draw electric current as required to dissipate said amount of said electrical power; and valving said compressor to reduce delivery of gas to said fuel cell stack.