KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Researchers at Western Michigan University have received a $3.17 million U.S. Department of Energy grant to spur development of an integrated charger-inverter system, which they says will help manufacturers reduce the weight, cost, volume, and emissions footprint of EVs. They says that is an important step in improving purchase options for consumers as well as vehicle manufacturers.
“This proposal was a team effort,” says Dr. Sandun Kuruppu, associate professor in Western’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, director of WMU’s Transportation Electrification and Applied Mechatronics (TEAMS) Lab and principal investigator for the project. “We have an excellent team that includes multiple disciplines of academia, national labs and, importantly, industry partners that can make this project a success. Together we were able to propose a really good idea that met the requirements of the Department of Energy.”
That idea, titled “Multi-Input Integrated Smart Charger-Inverter System with Galvanic Isolation,” is an effort to develop an advanced electric vehicle powertrain architecture that does not require an additional charger, while also adding many advanced features such as vehicle-to-grid capability, smart charging interface and variable battery size.
This project is a collaborative effort between Western, the University of Tennessee, University of Kentucky, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, John Deere, and BorgWarner.
In addition to the research and development of the integrated charger-inverter system, part of the funding will support workforce development, including graduate and undergraduate training and certification programs, to meet industry demands. The effort also will include outreach activities to promote STEM and electrification-related careers to K-12 students and educators.
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