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The authors propose a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) co-generation system integrated with an electric vehicle (EV) charging station. To examine the feasibility of the proposed system, the authors numerically simulated the operation pattern of the proposed system, using the electric and thermal demands measured at a multifamily apartment from May 2003 to April 2004. Based on the simulation results, the authors calculated the overall efficiency of the system as well as the primary energy saving rate. The available electric energy for EV charging was also evaluated for the case of the proposed system installed in the multifamily apartment. As a result, it is made clear that the annually averaged overall efficiency reaches about 77% (LHV) and the expected primary energy saving rate exceeds 30% throughout the year. In addition, it is also found that sufficient amount of electric energy for EV charging can be obtained from the proposed system. Therefore, it can be concluded that the proposed SOFC system can successfully combine electrical/thermal energy co-generation and electric vehicle charging while maintaining high energy efficiency and good matching to energy consumption patterns.

Our research group proposes a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) co-generation system with charging stand for electric vehicle (EV) as one of new applications of SOFCs. To evaluate the feasibility of the proposed system, the total efficiency, energy saving rate and electricity available for EV charging are calculated by comparing the electric and thermal demands measured at the existing multifamily apartment with the numerically obtained electric and thermal energy supplied from the proposed system. In the comparisons, optimization of operating method of the SOFC is also investigated and taken into account. Through the calculations and optimization, it is made clear that the proposed system is useful with regard to both the energetic efficiency and energy-consuming pattern.

The authors propose an SOFC (Solid Oxide Fuel Cell) co-generation system integrating with charging stand for EV (Electrical Vehicle) in this study. In order to study the feasibility of the proposed system, the authors calculate whole energy efficiency and amount of available electric energy for EV charging in the case the proposed SOFC co-generation system integrating with charging stand for EV is installed in an actually existing multifamily apartment. To get the whole energy efficiency and the amount of available electric energy for EV charging, the electric and thermal demands measured at the multifamily apartment from 2003 to 2004 are compared with the numerically obtained electric and thermal energy supplied from the proposed system. As a result, it is made clear that the whole energy efficiency reaches 75 % (LHV). In addition, it is also found that sufficient electric power for EV charging can be obtained from the proposed system. Therefore, it can be concluded that the proposed SOFC system, which plays roles of both co-generation and charging stand for EV, is reasonable from the viewpoint of both the energy efficiency and energy consuming pattern.