Wireless Power Transfer for Electric Vehicles: System Design Approach and Energy Storage Characterization

This thesis is the result of the research work carried out as part of the PhD course in Energy and Information Technology between November 2019 and January 2023 at the University of Palermo jointly with the University of Lisbon. The research project has been focused on wireless charging systems for electric vehicles. A wide-ranging analysis was conducted on the topic, with a particular focus on the design aspects of these systems. This thesis, a summary of the work carried out over the previous three years, is organized into two parts, identifying the macro research activities into which the project was been divided. The first part is focused on the design approach of the Wireless Power Transfer systems, the second one on the energy storage system characterization and design. In each chapter, a basic overview of the subject matter has been firstly provided, resulting from the bibliographical analysis conducted in each phase of the project, followed by a more in-depth discussion of each topic. The majority of the conducted studies have an experimental nature; for this reason, together with the theoretical analysis carried out, the experimental results of the conducted research have been presented. In Chapter 1, the fundamentals of wireless power transmission are provided through the description of different technologies available in literature. In Chapter 2, resonant magnetic power transfer systems for electric vehicles charging are discussed. In particular, each element of such systems is analyzed in detail and the experimental results of the work carried out are shown after the statement of the models employed for the study. In Chapter 3, an analysis of dynamic wireless charging systems is provided with a focus on their configurations and control. In Chapter 4, the main energy storage systems for automotive applications are extensively described, with a focus on lithium batteries, supercapacitors and hybrid storage systems. Finally, Chapter 5 takes the form of a summary, presenting di erent practical application of the the investigated systems, treated in the previous chapters.