Modular Multilevel Converters for Transportation Electrification: Challenges and Opportunities
Abstract
The power converters based on a modular structure have gained importance for electric transportation applications, including electric vehicles (EVs), EV charging stations, railway traction, and electric ships. Modular multilevel converters (MMCs) are recognized as one of the promising topologies to improve the energy conversion efficiency and fault-tolerant ability of power conversion systems. This paper aims at a review of latest research contributions regarding the evolution of circuit topologies, operational challenges, control schemes, and fault-tolerant strategies of the MMC. Finally, the current state of the art, opportunities and the future perspective of MMC in electric transportation applications are addressed.
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Some multilevel topologies benefit from modularity and fault-tolerance.
“Moreover, some multilevel topologies benefit from modularity and fault-tolerance [49], which makes them even more interesting in particular applications.”
From A Review of Multilevel Inverter Topologies in Electric Vehicles: Current Status and Future Trends (2021) · cites this paper as [49]
Modularity and scalability can be obtained using CHB or MMC inverters.
“On the other hand, modularity and scalability, which are demanded in many industrial applications as well as traction drives [49], can be obtained using CHB or MMC inverters.”
From A Review of Multilevel Inverter Topologies in Electric Vehicles: Current Status and Future Trends (2021) · cites this paper as [49]
In the past decades, many conventional two-level voltage source inverters have been replaced by multilevel counterparts in medium to high-voltage applications to gain lower current and voltage THD, lower EMI and common-mode voltage, higher efficiency, and lower voltage stress on devices.
“In the past decades, many conventional two-level voltage source inverters are replaced by their multilevel counterparts, mostly in medium to high-voltage applications in order to gain lower current and voltage THD, lower EMI and commonmode voltage, higher efficiency, and lower voltage stress on devices [48], [49].”
From A Review of Multilevel Inverter Topologies in Electric Vehicles: Current Status and Future Trends (2021) · cites this paper as [49]
Fault-tolerance is identified as a requirement of the propulsion system of EVs including motor drive in ISO 26262, mainly in limp-home mode.
“Therefore, fault-tolerance is identified as one of the requirements of the propulsion system of EVs including motor drive in ISO 26 262, mainly in limp-home mode [49].”
From A Review of Multilevel Inverter Topologies in Electric Vehicles: Current Status and Future Trends (2021) · cites this paper as [49]
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Safayatullah, M., Elrais, M. T., Ghosh, S., Rezaii, R., & Batarseh, I. (2022) · IEEE Access · doi:10.1109/access.2022.3166935 · Cited by 615 · see citing works
A Review of Multilevel Inverter Topologies in Electric Vehicles: Current Status and Future Trends
Poorfakhraei, A., Narimani, M., & Emadi, A. (2021) · IEEE Open Journal of Power Electronics · doi:10.1109/ojpel.2021.3063550 · Cited by 424 · see citing works
“issues, medium-voltage DC power system has become more attractive for ship application [49].”
BackgroundInfluentialA Review of Modulation and Control Techniques for Multilevel Inverters in Traction Applications
Poorfakhraei, A., Narimani, M., & Emadi, A. (2021) · IEEE Access · doi:10.1109/access.2021.3056612 · Cited by 179 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Ronanki, D., & Williamson, S. S.
- Affiliations
- Ontario Tech University (CA)
- Venue
- IEEE Transactions on Transportation Electrification
- Published
- 2018-06
- Volume
- 4
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 399-407
- ISSN
- 2332-7782 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2784141121
- Cited by
- 345
- References
- 73
- Citations by year
- 2026: 17 · 2025: 37 · 2024: 47 · 2023: 49 · 2022: 50 · 2021: 46 · 2020: 53 · 2019: 27 · 2018: 19
- FWCI
- 13.85
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- IEEE Transactions on Transportation Electrification (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › HVDC Systems and Fault Protection
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Multilevel Inverters and Converters
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Advanced DC-DC Converters
- Keywords
- modular multilevel converter, electric mobility, electric vehicles, electric vehicle charging stations, railway traction, electric ships, circuit topology, converter control, energy conversion efficiency
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