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Battery storage system (BSS) integration in the fast charging station (FCS) is becoming popular to achieve higher charging rates with peak-demand shaping possibility. However, the additional conversion stage for integrating the BSS increases the system losses, size, and cost. The concept of a partial power processing converter (PPPC) can mitigate this effect. Compared to conventional used full power processing converter (FPPC), PPPC reduces the amount of transferred power from the BSS to the electric vehicle (EV) by the converter. As a consequence, the power losses generated by the converter are reduced, leading to lower sized converters and higher system efficiencies. This article proposes a dc/dc multiport converter that allows the integration of battery storage in FCS based on a partial power processing concept while maintaining the specific requirements in terms of isolation for FCS. The proposed three-port partial power processing converter (3P-PPPC) is derived from the commonly used triple active bridge (TAB) converter. The resulting design tradeoffs, the dynamic behavior, and limitations of the topology are investigated. Furthermore, the round-trip efficiency of the 3P-PPPC for integrating BSS in FCS is compared with conventional FPPC solutions, highlighting the superiority of the proposed topology. A prototype has been built to validate the 3P-PPPC.

The increasing demand for higher power device utilization and reliability in power electronic systems is driving the integration of condition monitoring and active control in power electronic systems. With thermal heat dissipation being the limiting factor of module lifetime and performance, thermal real-time monitoring is key in this transition. However, this requires the availability of highly accurate and high-bandwidth temperature information with minimal phase lag. This article reviews key methods for temperature extraction in power modules: temperature sensing, thermal estimators, and thermal observers. While previous research has examined individual techniques of these methods in great detail, this article presents a methodological overview that provides insight to how different technologies may contribute to next-generation thermal-monitoring solutions. In this context, this article discusses how different technologies can be effectively combined to improve their overall performance. It finally discusses key challenges that must be addressed such that minimally invasive temperature sensing and thermal monitoring become an industrial practice in the future of power electronics.

Although multichip systems (MCS) are the standard solution for high-power converters, uneven losses and thermal distribution affect unequal lifetime consumption. Many solutions have been proposed to mitigate these effects; however, critical thermal deviations are still observed, leading to a reduction of the overall MCS reliability. Therefore, this work proposes a selective soft-switching (SS) approach, whereby the turn-off losses of the devices are manipulated to obtain thermal balancing and increase the reliability of MCSs. As a consequence, the high current per device reduces its turn-off time, thereby slightly increasing the MCS efficiency. In addition, a pretuning-based thermal balancing approach is presented, whereby the junction temperature ( $T_{j}$ ) of the devices are sensed via collector-emitter voltage ( $V_{\mathrm{\scriptscriptstyle CE}}$ ) only under reduced current conditions. To validate the proposed solutions, finite-elements modelling (FEM)-based simulation and experimental tests are conducted. Moreover, a case study demonstrates the capability of the selective SS to increase the reliability and reduce the energy consumption of MCS.

Continuous improvements in battery technology has paved the way for adoption in growing number of applications. However, the state-of-the-art graphite anodes remain sensitive to heat dissipation during fast charging or short circuits, and possibly causing inflammation of the battery. This is a limitation for safety critical applications and prevents ultra-high charging rates. In addition, power electronics is required for preventing hazardous and inefficient operating conditions, maximizing, for example, the lifetime of the battery system. Batteries with silicon anodes overcome the limitations of today?s battery technology and enable charging rates of multiple Cs, while operating up to 100 °C and being non-flammable. Nevertheless, this does not reduce requirements for the battery management system (BMS) to control the performance of the battery. The BMS needs to maximize the charging rate, limit mechanical stress of the battery electrodes, which is associated to high charging rates. Thus, obtaining high charging efficiency, while equalizing useful remaining lifetime for all battery stacks. This manuscript is a conceptional review of how silicon anodes could be used in future Lithium-ion (Li-ion) or Li sulfur batteries providing high energy densities, offering the possibility to charge batteries with higher current densities and faster charging times. BMS and the required power electronic converters for integrating battery storage are introduced and their application for the next generation of ultra-fast charging battery system is presented.

Electric vehicle charging stations are essential for the proceeding electrification of transportation. In particular, fast charging infrastructures cause high power demands and challenge the hosting capacity of already highly loaded distribution grids. For maximizing the grid’s hosting capacity, the charging infrastructure can provide grid voltage support or mitigation of current violation of devices such as transformers. Both grid support functionalities are dependent on the placement of charging stations in the grid. This work investigates the impact of charging stations’ location on the potential of these functionalities. The theoretical basis of the functionalities is introduced and an algorithm for optimized placement of fast charging stations (FCS) in the grid is introduced to maximize the hosting capacity for home charging facilities (HCFs).