A fuel cell auxiliary power unit (FC-APU) is a fuel cell based auxiliary power unit on a vehicle that provides energy for functions other than propulsion. They are mainly used in trucking, aviation, marine and recreational vehicles.
In 2010 there were globally 3,100 fuel cell APU shipments.
Around 300,000 refrigerator trucks with auxiliary power units are on the road in the United States, according to a 2013 estimate. In recent years, truck and fuel cell manufacturers have teamed up to create, test and demonstrate a fuel cell APU that eliminates nearly all emissions and uses diesel fuel more efficiently.
In 2008, a DOE sponsored partnership between Delphi Electronics and Peterbilt demonstrated that a fuel cell could provide power to the electronics and air conditioning of a Peterbilt Model 386 under simulated "idling" conditions for 10 hours. This solid oxide fuel cell can directly accept diesel using an integrated endothermic reformer. Delphi has said the 5 kW system for Class 8 trucks will be released in 2012, at an $8000âÂÂ9000 price tag that would be competitive with other "midrange" two-cylinder diesel APUs, should they be able to meet those deadlines and cost estimates. In 2013, DOE announced a similar project giving grants to Nuvera and Plug Power Inc., though this project is based on hydrogen-powered fuel cells.