Design and Simulation of Efficient Power Converters for Vehicle to Grid Applications

Abstract

Vehicle to grid (V2G) is a system where the flow of power between the grid and the vehicle is bidirectional; the power stored in an EV can be fed back into the grid in times of peak load or fed back into the EV if it needs to be recharged. V2G systems can improve the reliability and efficiency of the grid, all while reducing the electricity tariff on the end user. For this power flow to be possible, bidirectional power converters have to be utilized. While V2G related communication protocols are being standardized, V2G related hardware lacks such standards, mainly due to the lack of tested V2G models. As such, in this paper, the authors designed and simulated efficient bidirectional power converters and tested them in a V2G scenario. The designs are based on a synchronous buck converter and a bidirectional AC-DC converter. Furthermore, a solar PV system was integrated into the simulation, which further solidified the importance of V2G systems due to their versatility. The simulated model had an overall efficiency of 98% working in both directions, feeding the grid with 239 VAC at 60 Hertz with 0.7% THD.