GaN Quasi Z-Source DC/DC Converter for Electric Vehicles with Redox Flow Batteries

Redox flow batteries mounted on the vehicle chassis behavesbetter at low voltage and high current while the tractive system of electric vehicles is more efficient at high voltage and low current. The proposed DC/DC converter provides the necessarytractive system isolation from the flow battery and keeps the voltage ratio while working in two quadrants of the current flow direction. The Z-source converter topology enables the necessary wide range voltage control at high efficiency. The power density is increased using the Gallium Nitride (GaN) transistors. The tested prototype of the converter proves that the topology is suitable for this application.