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The study of multilevel dual-active-bridge (DAB) converters has garnered significant attention in recent years thanks to their advantages with respect to the conventional two-level (2L) DAB; namely, its greater performance and its capability to operate at higher voltage. The analysis of the converter high-frequency inductor current (𝑖LiL) is crucial, for instance, to compute its root mean square (RMS) value, required to estimate the conduction losses in the converter. The mathematical expression of 𝑖LiL is piecewise and multiple variations, i.e., modes, exist depending on the modulation parameter values. This increases the complexity of converter performance analytical study. Thus, a more practical and generalizable expression of 𝑖LiL current is desirable. This paper proposes novel compact analytic expressions for the instantaneous and RMS inductor current in the 2L-NL DAB converter, leveraging binary functions to define the piecewise intervals and to identify the mode as a function of the modulation parameter values. The proposed method paves the way for more simple and computationally efficient DAB performance optimization software tools that allow exploring any given converter structures and modulation strategies.

This paper takes analyses electric car styling design with a focus on low aerodynamic drag. The design starts with an ideal low-drag shape, and then develops the shape into a car styling. With the method of Computational Fluid Dynamics, and after several iterations between design refinement and aerodynamic optimization, the Coefficient of Drag (CD) finally resulted in 0.19, which is quite low for electric cars for saving energy and further the driving range.

The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of the literature from the last five years on the use of digital twin (DT) technology for Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSs), focusing on electric and autonomous vehicles. In particular, with respect to the previous work, the focus has been expanded to include DT integration with other cutting-edge technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and 5G for ITS.

In the transition towards sustainable mobility, Circular Design principles are crucial. Electric Motors are subject to continuous innovation to improve efficiency, performance density and reduce externalities associated with their production. Therefore, the choice of technological solutions during design phase must guarantee optimal performance and minimal environmental impact throughout the entire product life cycle: production, use, and end-of-life. In the automotive sector, the use phase is particularly critical since the efficiency of the traction system is directly related to total energy consumption during the life cycle and, consequently, to its environmental impact. This research introduces a simulation-based approach to evaluate the use phase of an Axial Flux Electric Motor equipped with Permanent Magnets (AFPM). While providing high performance for electric traction motors, these magnets are composed of Rare Earth Elements (REEs), e.g. Neodymium, classified as Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) due to limited availability and environmental concerns associated with extraction and processing. However, the high torque and power density of this motor technology can potentially reduce the use of CRMs compared to other design solutions. The primary objective of this study is to show a preliminary scalable model that allows designers to evaluate motor performance under different design choices and use scenarios, defined through standard or custom driving cycles, providing immediate feedback in terms of environmental impact. The latter is evaluated by analyzing the powertrain’s energy consumption and efficiency using a road vehicle model, compiling the use phase inventory quickly, and simplifying access to information. This preliminary model thus serves as a decision-support system to balance performance optimization and environmental sustainability during the design phase. This work is part of a framework aimed at improving circularity of industrial products, particularly in the automotive industry. Incorporating environmental factors in design phases encourages innovative solutions that enhance efficiency and decrease reliance on limited resources.

The study looks at how digital twin technology can be used in smart car systems by looking at its promise and the hurdles faced. Based on a comprehensive literature survey, this is the first in-depth look at how digital twin technology can be used in smart electric cars. The review has been organised into specific areas of the smart vehicle system, such as drive train system battery management system, driver assistance system, vehicle health monitoring system, vehicle power electronics.

This article begins with a bibliographic overview of research conducted on battery thermal management systems (BTMS). The paper then analyzes lithium-ion battery types, the processes of chemical reaction, the generation of electrical energy, and the mechanisms of heat generation within the battery. In addition, the impact of temperature on thermal phenomena in batteries, including thermal runaway and lithium dendrite, is examined. The study then provides a comprehensive and critical evaluation of the thermal management strategy in recent experimental, simulation, and modeling research within the organized category of BTMS for all-electric and hybrid vehicle battery packs.

In recent years, semiconductor manufacturers have developed power component packages which use a different thermal management approach - instead of placing the thermal pad on the bottom of a device pointing towards the PCB, the exposed metal pad is placed on the top side of the device. It has been shown that top-side cooling (TSC) can reduce the overall thermal resistance by 20% - 30% compared to bottom side cooling (BSC), making the process of heat extraction much simpler and consequently less expensive to implement. Ideas & Motion, a company which develops power inverters for electric vehicle (EV) powertrains, conducted simulations as part of the HiPE EU-funded project to assess the thermal performance of TSC packages from three leading semiconductor manufacturers.

This document presents the analysis, development, and testing of advanced active gate drivers (AGD) for high-power, high-frequency wide bandgap (WBG) devices, specifically focusing on Gallium Nitride (GaN) transistors. It aims to improve the performance of power converters by reducing circuit losses, overshoots, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) through a novel gate driving approach based on high-frequency PWM. The findings and methodologies are intended to enhance the efficiency and reliability of power electronic systems, particularly in high-power applications like those in the RHODaS project.

Neutral-point-clamped multilevel converters are a suitable solution to the implementation of low–medium voltage and power applications at present, thanks to their intrinsic superior voltage and current quality. The conventional configurations of these converters present uneven power loss distribution, causing thermal stress in some power semiconductors, which weakens the power converter reliability. To overcome this, an implementation of the neutral-point-clamped multilevel converter based on a switching-cell array is introduced, adding redundant conduction paths on one side and more options to distribute the switching losses on the other side. An active thermal control is proposed to balance the temperature distribution in the converter. A four-level converter has been implemented to evaluate the proposed solution. The experimental results show that the proposed implementation and active thermal control presents an enhanced temperature distribution in the converter and, therefore, reduced thermal stress and better reliability

This article reviews relevant researching work and current advances in the ever-broadening field of modern vehicle thermal management (VTM). Based on the systematic summaries of the design methods and applications of integrated thermal management (ITM), future tasks and proposals are presented. This article aims to promote innovation of ITM, strengthen the precise control and the performance predictable ability, furthermore, to enhance the level of research and development (R&D).