Loss Minimization of Traction Systems in Battery Electric Vehicles Using Variable DC-link Voltage Technique -- Experimental Study

TL;DR

This paper introduces a variable dc-link voltage method for electric vehicle traction systems, demonstrating through experiments that it reduces losses and improves efficiency by at least 2%.

Contribution

It presents a novel variable dc-link voltage technique with a 100-unit cascaded multilevel converter for traction loss reduction in EVs.

Findings

At least 2% efficiency improvement observed.

Significant reduction in machine and inverter losses.

Experimental validation confirms effectiveness.

Abstract

A novel variable dc-link voltage technique is proposed to reduce the traction losses for electrical drive applications. A 100-unit cascaded multilevel converter is developed to generate the variable dc-link voltage. Experimental measurement shows that the machine additional losses and IGBT-inverter losses are reduced substantially. The system efficiency enhancement is at least 2%.