Modified multiport Luo converter integrated with renewable energy sources for electric vehicle applications

Abstract

Purpose

Growing concerns about the depletion of fossil fuels and global awareness about the environmental pollution motivate the automobile industries to search for an alternative transportation system such as hybrid vehicular systems, plug-in hybrid vehicular systems and electric vehicular systems. To have carbon emission-free environment, these electric vehicles use renewable sources, such as solar and fuel cell, as primary source of supply. As these renewable sources are intermittent in nature, an energy buffer such as battery or super capacitor is required for the smooth supply and regulation of load power. The current electric vehicle systems use multistage power electronic converters for energy transfer. Therefore, this paper aims to propose a modified multiport converter based on Luo topology.

Design/methodology/approach

The suggested converter is developed based on Luo topology using voltage lift technique.

Findings

Most of the research presents buck boost converter as power electronic interface in electric vehicle applications. Whereas the converter proposed in this paper is based on Luo topology. It exhibits the features of single stage conversion between the input output ports, with less ripple, high efficiency, fewer components and centralized control for effective power management.

Originality/value

The presented converter can work in all possible modes such as buck and boost modes independently or simultaneously during various operating conditions of electric vehicles. During buck/boost mode, the primary source PV (Photovoltaic) in the converter provides the required power for the vehicle and charges the secondary source, i.e. battery, whereas during boost mode the battery supplies the sufficient power to load.

Citation

Kamaraj, V. and Nallaperumal, C. (2020), "Modified multiport Luo converter integrated with renewable energy sources for electric vehicle applications", Circuit World, Vol. 46 No. 2, pp. 125-135. https://doi.org/10.1108/CW-08-2019-0104