Vehicle Operations

V2X technologies will become widespread in the next generation of passenger cars, and enable the development of novel vehicle control functionalities. Although a wide literature describes the energy efficiency benefits of V2X connectivity, e.g., in terms of vehicle speed profiling and platooning, there is a gap in the analysis of the potential of vehicle connectivity in enhancing the performance of active safety control systems. To highlight the impact vehicle connectivity could have on future active safety systems, this paper presents two novel control functions for connected vehicles, benefitting from the precise knowledge of the expected path and tire-road friction conditions ahead, as well as the current position of the ego vehicle. These functions, developed within recent and ongoing European projects, are: i) pre-emptive traction control; and ii) pre-emptive braking control. 

Electric vehicles (EVs) are vital in the transition toward a sustainable and carbon-neutral future. However, the widespread adoption of EVs currently depends on the convenience of the charging process and the availability of their charging infrastructure. Consequently, onboard chargers (OBCs), offering an ac-charging solution built into most EVs, have gained significant attention. Furthermore, bidirectional OBCs enable reverse power flow, whereby the EV battery can be used to power various devices, homes, or even the electric grid. However, as the trend towards bidirectional OBCs becomes evident, new power converter design challenges arise, intensifying the need for high-efficiency, compact and cost-competitive solutions. This article extensively reviews the state-of-the-art bidirectional on-board chargers by analyzing over 500 publications, identifying the key trends, challenges, and research opportunities that will influence the development of next-generation bidirectional OBCs. Hence, various strategies to achieve cutting-edge performance are deducted. This includes the rise of high-voltage batteries, the integration of powertrains, the growing adoption of wide-bandgap semiconductors, and the use of integrated planar magnetic components, all aiming to enhance efficiency and power density. This article is accompanied by a CSV file recording all pertinent references to support future research, statistical analysis, and other contributions.

The design of high-frequency transformers plays a pivotal role in electric vehicle charging systems, acting as the core component in isolated DC-DC converters. Achieving a transformer that not only operates well within the converter but also achieves high efficiency and compact size involves the balancing of numerous trade-offs. Managing the magnetic losses is essential as they dictate the efficiency but also govern the required transformer size for effective heat dissipation. This paper presents a novel transformer design method based on an exhaustive search algorithm that identifies the Pareto optimal transformers with minimised loss and weight. By introducing a Steinmetz equation filter, rapid computational speed and accuracy are combined. Loss estimations are based on experimentally validated analytical models, and the proposed methodology is experimentally validated by multiple transformer prototypes. Their operation in a dual active bridge is demonstrated by experimental measurements and circuit simulation. The results prove the effectiveness of the proposed design approach in achieving efficient and compact transformers.