Electric car owners know it well: charging can be a real headache. Two researchers are about to revolutionize this sector thanks to a universal charger.
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The world of electric cars, as promising as it is, is currently in chaos when it comes to charging systems. Since a variety of vehicles are powered by different battery voltages, the question arises: is it possible to design a universal charger that fits everyone? A recent study suggests that dream could come true.
A problematic heterogeneity
Currently, electric car owners might have problems when it comes to charging their vehicles. Current models such as the MG4, the Tesla Model 3 and the Mercedes-Benz EQA, to name just a few, work with battery voltages between 250 and 450 volts.
However, a new wave of electric cars, including the Porsche Taycan, Lucid Air and Kia EV6, use higher voltages, which range from 600 to 800 volts. The latter offer the advantage that loading times are reduced and life becomes more practical on long journeys.
The future: a universal charger
In this jungle of configurations, a glimmer of hope emerges from a research paper published in the September issue of IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics. Researchers Deepak Ronanki and Harish Karneddi designed it a charger that can handle voltages from 120 to 900 V.
The genius of this charger lies in that its two-tier configuration. It features front-end power factor correction (PFC) circuitry followed by a reconfigurable DC-DC converter. The term “boost buck” comes into its own here: the charger can increase or decrease the voltage as required. Simulations performed by the researchers show that the charger can safely adapt to any voltage within the expected range. It has an efficiency of over 94%, surpassing conventional chargers.
The advantage of such a charger is twofold. On the one hand, there is no need for specific chargers for each vehicle. As Deepak Ronanki points out, this universal charger could even serve as an emergency kit, fixing unexpected battery failures or deep discharges. On the other hand, the planned marketing as an on-board charging unit could drastically reduce the production costs of the charging devices.
The road to commercialization has already been mapped out: a patent is being registered and cooperation with industrial companies is under discussion. In addition, the research duo plans to expand the application of their charger to other vehicle types. especially electric bicyclesbut also motorcycles and scooters, paving the way for the long-awaited standardization in the field of electric mobility.
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