US-based Kettering University's Advanced Power Electronics Lab (APEL) has joined hands with German automotive lighting and electronic products firm HELLA for bringing about an innovation towards charging electric vehicles (EV).
HELLA has already developed a Level-2 EV charger that operates through three stages that involve converting AC grid voltage to 400 VDC, inverting DC to high frequency AC and converting AC back to DC for facilitating charging of the battery.
The system's overall wall-to-battery efficiency has been pegged at 94% with an assumption that each phase results in 2% loss of power.
A prototype is likely by October and applications have already been filed for patents.
Electrical Engineering at Kettering University associate professor Dr. Kevin Bai is collaborating with HELLA for the next generation charger with the elimination of one of the stages, translating into 97% efficiency. Besides, a research graduate and a research engineer are also assisting Bai towards testing and designing.
Bai said: "By using gallium-nitride devices, the charger switching frequency also is significantly higher, nearly double the present charger... The design will make the charger ultra compact and light, which eventually will be a game changer for the EV charging industry."
Bai and researchers have already succeeded designing charging technology, including a 24-kilowatt charger for Turkish automaker Derindere Motorlu Araclar (DMA) and a 10-kilowatt charger for Magna E-car.
HELLA Corporate Center advanced engineering manager Matt McAmmond said: "As an innovator, HELLA is very much a hands-on company.
"Engaging with the students and staff at Kettering University allows us to get a fresh perspective while sharing our knowledge of real world applications in technology."
