High-Voltage Bus Converter Power Modules for Electric Vehicle 48 V Power Delivery Networks

This article focuses on how the unique characteristics of high voltage bidirectional bus converter power modules can support transient regenerative energy use cases in electric vehicles. The economic dynamics driving the preferential adoption of 48Vdc versus legacy 12Vdc power delivery networks are described. Critical module characteristics, including circuit topology, module construction and input voltage range are identified from an application perspective. Passively-cooled active suspension is the studied application, and the thermal model and pulsed power simulation for an example bus converter modules is presented. Waveforms showing bidirectional flow, transient output power, load step, and non-transient output power are provided, and conclusions are drawn.