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Project name:

Control mechanism to prevent unwanted leakage currents in electric vehicle chargers

Status: Idea
Creation date: 08-09-2022

Project objectives:

Short summary A German university has developed a method that reduces the leakage current in transformerless chargers for electrical vehicles. This has been proven to reduce leakage current considerably, even to zero. This invention could be utilised in all battery-based electric vehicles, whether all-electric or plug-in hybrid. Licensees are sought. A technical co-operation agreement is also offered.

Full description The number of electric vehicles that are being registered is increasing significantly each year. The efficient charging of the drive battery is a key technology for the continued success of electric vehicles on the market. In this context, attention has recently turned to transformerless on-board charger concepts. Given the known and considerable leakage capacitance of the battery and the connected high-voltage system, special care must be taken with transformerless chargers to ensure that high leakage current is not generated to ground and through the protective earth (PE) conductor. The patent-pending invention from a German university uses a method that does without an additional compensation circuit for leakage current, instead using the charger’s inherent DC-DC (direct current) stage that connects its link to the battery (see figure). This DC-DC stage makes it possible to effectively compensate for low-frequency pulsating battery potentials and the resulting unwanted leakage current, such as those that occur particularly with transformerless on-board chargers for electric vehicles on various AC (alternating current) grids. This has been proven to reduce leakage current considerably, even to zero. All battery-based electric vehicles, whether all-electric or plug-in hybrid, could utilize this circuit in the future with a suitable control mechanism. The German university offers interested companies the opportunity to license and continue to develop this technology with the inventors. The invention is directed to automobile manufacturers or their suppliers and to battery manufacturers who would like to make use of the technology.

Advantages and innovations The patent-pending invention from a German university uses a method that works without an additional compensation circuit for leakage current, instead using the charger’s inherent DC-DC (direct current) stage that connects its link to the battery (see figure). The following advantages result from this invention: • Simpler circuit concept • No additional components • Compatible with international AC grids (1AC, 2AC, 3AC) • Excellent leakage current reduction
Contact / source: NEXT EEN Widgets (europa.eu)

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