OFF-BOARD ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERY CHARGER USING PV ARRAY

Abstract: In the past decade, the automobile sector has experienced significant growth due to the advancement of electric vehicles (EVs). The battery charging system is crucial for the progress of EVs. Charging EV batteries from the grid increases the demand on the load. Consequently, this study proposes a photovoltaic (PV) array-based off-board EV battery charging system. Regardless of solar irradiance levels, the EV battery must be charged consistently, which is accomplished by incorporating a backup battery bank alongside the PV array. By utilizing a sepic converter and a three- phase bidirectional DC–DC converter, the proposed system can charge the EV battery during both sunny and non-sunny periods. During peak sunlight hours, the backup battery charges in conjunction with the EV battery, while during non- sunny hours, the backup battery facilitates the charging of the EV battery. The proposed charging system has been simulated using Simulink within the MATLAB software, and an experimental prototype has been constructed and tested in the laboratory, with the results presented in this study.