Current Harmonics, Voltage Distortion, and Powers Associated with Battery Chargers Part I: Comparisons Among Different Types of Chargers

This report compares the performance of five types of battery chargers for use with electric vehicles. Chargers with and without controlled rectifiers for maintenance of constant charging current and with and without current-smoothing inductors are analyzed. Based on a typical electric vehicle battery pack and an 8 hour recharge cycle, current and voltage waveshapes, current harmonic levels, power, reactive and distortive volt-amperes, voltage distortion factor, and power factor are reported for each charger type.