Enhancing Transient Response in a DC-DC Converter for Electric Vehicle DC Fast Charging Applications Using Fractional-Order PI Control

Abstract

DC fast charging is critical for the widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) due to its impact on convenience, economics, and environmental sustainability. Due to the critical role of DC fast charging in EV adoption, improving its efficiency and performance is paramount. This paper presents a Fractional-Order PI (FOPI) controller for obtaining a well-regulated output voltage of a Dual Active Bridge (DAB) converter, a widely used topology in EV applications. The proposed FOPI is validated to the conventional PI controller in a simulated DAB model that is relevant to DC fast charging applications. The evaluation is performed, and various time-domain parameters and performance indices to evaluate the dynamic response of the model are considered. The results are expected to demonstrate significant improvement in the converter’s transient and steady-state response using the proposed FOPI controller compared to the conventional PI controller, contributing to a more efficient and robust DC fast charging system. This improvement can translate to faster charging times, better stability, and potentially reduced stress on the EV battery during DC fast charging.