Innovative Reconfigurable Power Converters Enabling Electric Vehicles to Integrate Two Batteries

For use in electric vehicles that use two batteries, this research introduced and examined in detail two novel reconfigurable power converter topologies: the Contactor-Based Converter (CBC) and the Bidirectional Switch-Based Converter (BSC). The suggested dual-battery design's charging capabilities were tested by including a non-isolated Inverter-Charger System (ICS) into the system architecture. Comprehensive MATLAB simulations and experimental hardware implementation were used to test the reconfiguration features of the converters that were suggested. These functions include single battery operation, battery series, battery parallel in charging and traction conditions. The obtained results indicate that the proposed converter topologies enhance the utilization of the batteries and offer greater flexibility in operations due to the battery load sharing among the battery packs. The capacity to choose link either battery pack to the output terminals is a major strength of the suggested system that improves system dependability, fault tolerance, and battery design adaptability. Besides, the suggested converters before the parallel operation provide a voltage-balancing function, which can balance the battery voltages at the battery pack terminals. This allows the batteries to last longer and operate more reliably by minimizing the amount of current flowing between the packs of batteries, which in turn reduces the stress on the batteries. Both simulation studies and hardware validation have been performed and the suggested converter designs are effective, resilient and can be adapted to a wide range of operating conditions. One of the biggest challenges that lie in the path of EVs is their limited range, lack of dependability, and operating flexibility. The proposed dual-battery integration technique is feasible and effective in the solution. Further benefits of the reconfigurable topology are improved functional safety, enhanced system resilience, extended battery life and uninterrupted operation in case of partial battery failure. Despite the slightly higher hardware cost initially introduced by the proposed architecture, it provides a cost-effective and attractive solution for future applications of electric vehicles because of its high reliability, low maintenance, better battery performance and continuity.

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