Power Electronics Converters in Electric Vehicles: An Unique Development of Research

The presentation will briefly overview the Electric Vehicles classification, BEVs, and PHEVs for the trends. EVs’ front-wheel propulsion, rear-wheel propulsion, and even all-wheel propulsion configurations depend on vehicle application. EVs use batteries as the key power source, and significant technological changes, such as lead-acid and NiMH technology, are long gone. Li-ion batteries are currently the new focus, but their capability falls short, and consumers often suffer from ‘range anxiety’. Therefore, research in this area focuses on developing electrical storage solutions with more capacity and better power densities. Ultra-capacitors are viewed as auxiliary power sources because of their high power densities. If paired with batteries, ultra-capacitors produce a hybrid ESS that can satisfy some ideal source requirements. EVs can be charged with either an AC or DC source. There are distinct electric potential levels, and they are designated accordingly. Higher voltage choices provide fast charging. DC supplies eliminate the need for AC rectification, minimizing delay and loss. However, with increased voltage levels, the burden on the grid increases and can give rise to harmonics and voltage imbalance in an unsupervised system. Therefore, there is ample chance for research to mitigate the challenges associated with high-voltage charging. - These structures are included in the tutorial slides to demonstrate how they can achieve the maximum voltage gain by adapting the passive/active component in the power circuits. Some power converter models are included for assessment to show their functionality and performance. Finally, this technical talk also provides recommendations for future development with power converters for EV applications based on trustworthy and cost-effective solutions.