Automotive applications of power electronics

Abstract

The automotive industry demands highly reliable and efficient electronic components. This translates to the need for highly reliable, cost-effective and efficient traction inverters. Due to the current situation of rising issues due to climate change and other environmental concerns, the shift toward cleaner vehicle technologies is all the more prudent for automobile manufacturers. The key enabler for supporting newer varieties of loads, which thus enable feature additions and functional enhancements is the power electronic systems. This demands advances in not only the power electronic interfaces but also the associated control strategies and battery technologies. The key performance metrics involved include efficiency, reliability, size, cost, driving range, charging time, and so on. The nuances of design, implementation of EV drivetrain followed by power electronic systems used, functionalities supported by the use of power electronic interfaces, power conversion in EVs, current trends, and future opportunities are studied in detail in this chapter.