SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INITIALIZING A FUEL CELL (FC) USING SPLIT BATTERIES AND POWERING A LOAD

Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to heating a startup battery within a battery system to rapidly initialize and start a fuel cell (FC). In one embodiment, a method includes triggering coolant flow using a startup battery that actuates controllable valves coupled to the startup battery, and the startup battery powers a FC and the startup battery is coupled to a heater and a running battery. The method also includes initiating the heater for a battery system to warm coolant using the startup battery, the battery system includes the startup battery and the running battery. The method also includes starting the FC with the startup battery, expanding the coolant flow, and switching on the running battery to power a load upon satisfaction of a threshold for charging the startup battery.