A novel bidirectional on-board battery charger for vehicular application and vehicle-to-grid support

Over the last decade, the demand for efficient and fast-charging solutions for electric vehicles has surged, driven by the growth of electric mobility and renewable energy integration. This research activity presents the design and analysis of a novel bidirectional On-Board Battery Charger (OBC) for vehicular applications, supporting Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) integration. The thesis begins by addressing modern challenges in OBC design, such as increased power demands and the need for electrical isolation between the AC grid and the vehicle's DC system. It follows a detailed analysis of the modulation strategy, including a combination between Space Vector Modulation (SVM) and Phase Shift Modulation (PSM), to accurately control both active and reactive power. The theoretical development is validated through Simulink models, an accurate design of all components and selection from real catalogues, with results showing improved efficiency and control precision. Despite the promising design, some shortcomings were identified during simulations. Efficiency and THD were slightly below the theoretical target values, and the complexity of the control technique, with a large number of active devices, remains a critical challenge. Future research will focus on the use of bidirectional GaN switches to improve overall performance. Overall, the proposed OBC represents a significant advancement in charging technology, offering improved performance and reliability for the future of electric vehicles, thanks to fast charging times, better grid integration, and V2G capabilities.