An overview of power electronics in electric vehicles

Abstract

In response to concerns about energy cost energy dependence and environmental damage a rekindling of interest in electric vehicles (EV's) has been obvious. Based on the California rules on zero emission vehicles in the United States as well as similar tightened air pollution regulation in Europe Asia and much of the rest of the world the market size of EV's will be enormous. Thus the development of power electronics technology for EV's will take an accelerated pace to fulfill the market needs. This paper reviews the current status of multidisciplinary technologies in EV's. Various challenges of power electronics technology for EV propulsion battery charging and power accessories are explored. © 1997 IEEE.published_or_final_versio