This chapter has been written keeping in mind that the electric vehicle is a
multidisciplinary subject mainly involving electrical and mechanical engineering. So,
the chapter begins by briefly discussing the basics of various semiconductor devices
mainly used in the power electronic converters used for electric vehicles. This chapter
clearly explains the requirement of power electronic converters to turn the electricity
derived from an electric battery into a suitable form for an electric drive. It discusses
the suitability of various semiconductor devices in different applications of drives
based on switching and conduction losses. This chapter gives a comprehensive review
of various power electronic converters used for electric drives. The former part of the
chapter is dedicated to a detailed discussion of various configurations of DC-DC
converters for electric drives with schematic diagrams, mathematical equations, and
waveforms. In the later part of the chapter, a detailed discussion of various
configurations of DC-AC converters for electric drives with schematic diagrams,
mathematical equations, and waveforms is provided. This chapter also includes a
comparison of various configurations to suit a particular kind of electric vehicle. For
better understanding, the chapter also discusses speed control of induction motor drives
using power electronic converters. A case study of the design and development of a
bidirectional charger for electric vehicles is discussed on the MATLAB Simulink
platform. Bidirectional chargers, which enable power flow in both directions from the
grid to the vehicle (G2V) and from the vehicle to the grid (V2G), are at the forefront of
this technological evolution.
Keywords: Bidirectional charger, Converters, Electric drive, Electric vehicle, Induction motor, Semiconductor devices.
