A low-cost, digitally-controlled charger for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles

In this paper, a low-cost onboard charger for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) is presented and verified experimentally. The idea is to utilize the already available main traction and auxiliary motors and associated power electronics systems of an HEV to construct the charger circuit instead of building a standalone charger. Compared to the latter, it enables significant cost, weight, and volume reductions. The topology was verified by modeling and experimental results on a 14 kW prototype.