Title: Comparison and evaluation of different DC/DC topologies for plug-in hybrid electric vehicle chargers

Authors: Hua Bai; Chris Mi

Addresses: Department of Electrical and Computer, Kettering University, 1700 W University Ave, Flint, MI, 48504, USA. ' Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Michigan-Dearborn, 4901 Evergreen Road, Dearborn, MI, 48128, USA

Abstract: The battery charging system is a critical part of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). The efficiency, charging speed, and cost of such chargers are crucial to the commercialisation of PHEVs. In this paper, the advantages and drawbacks of four potential PHEV charger topologies were compared based on their operations through simulation and experiments. Their electrical stress, efficiency, cost, and the feasibility were discussed in detail. It was concluded that a full-bridge based PHEV charger is the most favourable choice among the four available topologies due to its power capability, soft switching capability, low electric stress, high efficiency, but slightly elevated cost.

Keywords: forward converters; flyback converters; half-bridge converters; full-bridge converters; DC-DC converters; battery chargers; plug-in hybrid electric vehicles; PHEVs; electric vehicles; fast charging; battery charging; power capability; soft switching capability; low electric stress; high efficiency; cost; plug-in HEVs.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPELEC.2012.045627

International Journal of Power Electronics, 2012 Vol.4 No.2, pp.119 - 133

Received: 23 Mar 2011
Accepted: 11 Sep 2011
Published online: 23 Aug 2014 *

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