HyMC project

The CNMS Program (CN00000023) funded by the European Union – Next Generation EU, under the PNRR MUR – M4C2 Investimento 1.4. " Potenziamento strutture di ricerca e creazione di “campioni nazionali di R&S” allows Alma Automotive to leverage the skills and knowledge acquired in the design of DC-DC motorsport systems to develop a new high-efficiency DC-DC converter for hydrogen-powered and battery-electric vehicles. 

The goal of the HyMC Project is to develop a modular DC-DC converter prototype for automotive applications based on hydrogen fuel cells.

Hydrogen-powered electric propulsion represents an alternative to systems that rely solely on batteries. One of the key components for the development of such a propulsion system is the DC-DC converter, which interfaces the output of the fuel cell to the high-voltage bus of the vehicle’s powertrain, enabling optimal management of energy flows. The base unit of HyMC is a 15kW DC-DC converter that can be paralleled. The system’s modularity allows it to be adapted to various propulsion system sizes, up to 90kW. The proposed device will incorporate innovative techniques to achieve high efficiency in a compact form factor, such as Partial Power Conversion, resonant LLC conversion topology, and the use of Wide Bandgap semiconductors. The detailed design requirements will be defined in close collaboration with the proposing entity, sharing the decisions made for the system’s implementation. The design criteria will consider the specific needs of automotive applications, aiming to optimize efficiency without sacrificing size, weight, and vehicle integration. 

The output of the project will be a functional prototype validated in the laboratory. 

The Research & Development project includes total investments of € 215,541.00, funded by a contribution of € 133,265.00.