ABSTRACT
The rapid growth of electric vehicles (EVs) offers considerable opportunities for the usage of green energies in electrification transportation. Wide band-gap (WBG) semiconductor devices are gaining popularity due to their unique features, such as higher breakdown voltages, higher temperature handling capability, high-frequency operation, and higher switching transients sustains capability than silicon (Si) devices. Also, SiC and GaN power devices have higher switching frequencies (from kHz to MHz), leading to lower switching losses, higher efficiency, cost reduction, compact size, and higher power density. Therefore, WBG-based power converters are the potential candidates for the next generation of fast EV charging applications. This chapter articulates a comprehensive overview of the advancements and progress of WBG-based DC-DC converter topologies and architectures, control strategies, and critical assessment. The merits and demerits of all charger configurations are explored. A detailed review and comparative analysis of commercially available chargers are presented. Finally, the future research challenges and trends for WBG configurations, soft-switching techniques for WBG power converters, and advanced control techniques are discussed in this chapter.
