A Wide Voltage Range Bidirectional Battery Charger With Smooth Mode Transition Using Predictive Control Approach

Integrating electric vehicles (EVs) into the electrical grid offers substantial opportunities while also posing challenges, particularly for bidirectional power flow in grid-to-vehicle (G2V) and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) applications. Nonetheless, existing bidirectional chargers encounter significant challenges, including interoperability issues with various EV battery pack voltages, necessitating an effective transition method for a smooth transition between boost and buck modes. This article presents a single-phase wide voltage range common-ground bidirectional charger as a significant advancement in EV battery charging, facilitating efficient power transfer between the grid and the vehicle. The proposed charger is compatible with charging both low- and medium-voltage battery pack EVs. Furthermore, a new predictive control architecture is implemented to provide a smooth mode transition between boost and buck modes while minimizing zero-crossing distortion, thereby enhancing power quality in both G2V and V2G modes. The performance of the proposed charger is validated through comprehensive simulation and experimental studies on a dSPACE-controlled 3.3 kW SiC-based laboratory prototype. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed charger’s dynamic and steady-state performance, making the proposed charger a promising solution for EV charging applications.