SCAPE is proud to announce the publication of a new research article contributing to the advancement of next-generation power electronics for electric vehicles.

Auxiliary power modules play a crucial role in EVs by converting energy from the high-voltage traction battery to supply the vehicle’s auxiliary loads. Traditionally, they rely on isolated two-port DC-DC converters delivering a single fixed voltage, most commonly 12 V. This conventional approach is not optimal since auxiliary loads often require different voltage levels to operate efficiently.

The study addresses this challenge by proposing a generalised multiport, multilevel neutral-point-clamped dual-active-bridge converter. This innovative architecture enables multiple auxiliary loads at different voltage levels to be supplied from a single conversion stage, while also achieving greater efficiency and reduced voltage stress compared to conventional two-level converters. By leveraging the modular nature of NPC converters, the system enhances scalability and power density without requiring additional passive components.

The paper introduces a modulation strategy that minimises conduction losses and a decoupled closed-loop control strategy that regulates the state of charge of low-voltage battery modules and balances power distribution among loads. The system has been validated through hardware-in-the-loop testing and simulations, showing rapid stabilisation of less than half a second under different operating conditions.

This work represents a significant step toward multi-voltage auxiliary architectures for EVs, improving efficiency and reliability while reducing system complexity. It reflects SCAPE’s mission to enable smarter, scalable, and more sustainable e-mobility solutions.

The article is available open access here