Case Study: University of Waterloo achieves award‑winning, fuel‑efficient fuel cell vehicle design with MathWorks Model‑Based Design

University of Waterloo Develops Award-Winning Fuel Cell Technology Using Model-Based Design

The University of Waterloo Alternative Fuels Team (UWAFT) entered the GM/DOE Challenge X to re‑engineer a Chevrolet Equinox to reduce emissions and fuel consumption without sacrificing performance. To meet tight 10‑month design and testing deadlines, the team adopted MathWorks’ Model‑Based Design tools—notably MATLAB, Simulink, Stateflow and Simscape Electrical—to capture requirements, simulate powertrains, and accelerate control strategy development.

MathWorks provided software and training that let UWAFT run more than 400 PSAT simulations, build detailed plant and hybrid‑control models, use Optimization and Global Optimization Toolboxes for component sizing and benchmarking, apply Deep Learning Toolbox for fuel‑cell membrane modeling, and produce deployed code with Embedded Coder. The result: UWAFT won first place overall in Challenge X and the MathWorks Crossover to Simulink Model‑Based Design Award, delivered substantial design‑time savings (completing first‑year goals in under 10 months), improved team collaboration, and demonstrated an innovative, competitive fuel‑cell powertrain.

University of Waterloo

Matthew Stevens

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