Emerging Power Electronics Technologies for Electric Vehicles: Intelligent Architectures and Sustainable Energy Conversion

1. Introduction

Power electronics plays a pivotal role in enabling the widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), serving as the backbone for energy conversion, control, and management across propulsion systems, auxiliary loads, charging infrastructures, and hybrid energy architectures. As EV technologies continue to evolve toward higher efficiency, power density, and intelligence, the demands placed on power electronic systems have grown far beyond traditional voltage and current regulation. Modern EV power electronics must ensure high reliability, fast dynamic responses, fault tolerance, and seamless integration with increasingly complex energy systems.

Recent advances in semiconductor devices, control theory, and artificial intelligence have opened new possibilities for converter design and system optimization. At the same time, emerging applications such as wireless charging, vehicle-to-grid interaction, and hybrid energy systems have broadened the functional scope of EV power electronics. In this context, the Special Issue “Power Electronics for Electric Vehicles” aims to present a curated collection of recent research that reflects both the depth and diversity of ongoing developments in this field.

This Special Issue brings together nine contributions that collectively address converter topologies, advanced control strategies, fault diagnosis, and system-level integration for electric vehicle applications. Rather than focusing on isolated components, these works highlight the increasing trend toward intelligent, adaptive, and application-driven power electronic systems.

2. Overview of Contribution

2.1. Power Conversion for Wireless Charging and Hybrid Energy Interfaces

With the diversification of EV energy interfaces beyond conventional plug-in charging, power electronic systems must support flexible and efficient energy transfer under varying operating conditions. Two contributions in this Special Issue address this challenge from complementary perspectives: wireless power transfer and hybrid energy integration.

Zhang et al. [1] investigate constant-voltage (CV) and constant-current (CC) characteristics in a variable-structure dual-frequency dual-load wireless power transfer (WPT) system. Wireless charging is increasingly attractive for EVs due to its convenience and suitability for autonomous and dynamic charging scenarios. However, achieving stable output characteristics under different load conditions remains a major technical challenge. By introducing dual-frequency operation combined with a variable system structure, the authors demonstrate that both CV and CC modes can be realized without complex secondary-side control. This approach enhances system flexibility and robustness, contributing to the practical deployment of wireless charging in EV infrastructures.

From a different but related perspective, Xie et al. [2] explore integrated DC/DC converter topologies for fuel cell hybrid vehicles with two energy sources. As fuel cells are gaining attention as a complementary energy source to batteries, power electronics must efficiently manage energy flow between multiple sources and loads. The authors compare several integrated converter structures in terms of efficiency, component count, and controllability, offering valuable design insights for hybrid energy systems. Together, these two studies illustrate how power electronics is enabling new EV energy paradigms, from contactless charging to multi-source hybridization.

2.2. Advanced Converter Topologies for Bidirectional and Multi-Mode Operation

Bidirectional power flow and multi-mode operation are now fundamental requirements for EV power converters, particularly due to the widespread use of regenerative braking and the growing interest in vehicle-to-grid (V2G) applications. Two papers in this Special Issue focus on novel converter topologies that address these needs.

Dias et al. [3] propose a tri-mode bidirectional DC–DC converter specifically designed to enhance regenerative braking efficiency and speed control in electric vehicles. Through three distinct operating modes, the converter can be adapted to varying driving and braking conditions, ensuring efficient energy recovery and flexible power management. The proposed topology demonstrates reduced switching losses and improved operational versatility, which are crucial for improving overall vehicle energy efficiency.

Complementing this work, Zhao et al. [4] investigate direct power control of a bipolar output active rectifier based on an optimized sector division strategy. Although originally motivated by more electric aircraft applications, the underlying principles are highly relevant to EV traction and high-power conversion systems. The optimized control scheme achieves reduced current harmonics and improved dynamic response, highlighting the potential for cross-domain technology transfer between aerospace and automotive power electronics. Together, these studies emphasize the importance of topology and control co-design in enabling efficient and flexible bidirectional power conversion.

2.3. Robust and Intelligent Control of DC–DC Converters

As EV powertrains operate under highly dynamic and uncertain conditions, conventional linear control methods are often insufficient to guarantee optimal performance and robustness. Several contributions in this Special Issue address this challenge by introducing advanced and intelligent control strategies for DC–DC converters.

Sami et al. [5] present a new control strategy for dual-active-bridge (DAB) DC–DC converters based on double integral super twisting sliding mode control. Compared with traditional phase-shift control methods, the proposed approach offers superior robustness against parameter variations and load disturbances, while significantly improving transient performance. Given the widespread use of DAB converters in high-power isolated applications such as on-board chargers and DC fast charging interfaces, this work provides a valuable advancement toward more reliable and responsive EV power electronics.

In a related direction, Sakasegawa et al. [6] introduce a novel linear quadratic integral (LQI) control technique for interleaved-boost converters. By combining optimal control theory with integral action, the proposed controller achieves both fast dynamic response and zero steady-state error. Experimental validation confirms improved disturbance rejection and transient behavior, making this approach particularly suitable for EV front-end power conversion and auxiliary power units. Together, these two studies demonstrate how modern control theory can significantly enhance the performance and reliability of EV power converters.

2.4. Intelligent and Nonlinear Control for Enhanced Regenerative Energy Recovery

Regenerative braking represents a critical opportunity to improve EV energy efficiency, but it also imposes stringent requirements on converter control due to rapid transients and varying operating conditions. Ruz-Hernandez et al. [7] address this challenge by proposing a neural sliding mode control strategy for a buck–boost converter applied to a regenerative braking system. By integrating neural networks with sliding mode control, the authors achieve enhanced adaptability and robustness in the presence of uncertainties and disturbances. Compared with conventional controllers, the proposed method demonstrates superior tracking performance and stability, underscoring the growing role of intelligent and nonlinear control techniques in EV energy recovery systems.

This work also reflects a broader trend in EV power electronics toward the fusion of artificial intelligence and control theory, enabling converters to respond more effectively to complex and unpredictable operating environments.

2.5. Reviews and Fault Diagnosis: Toward Reliable and Maintainable Systems

Beyond performance optimization, ensuring the reliability and maintainability of power electronic systems is of paramount importance for large-scale EV deployment. Two contributions in this Special Issue address these concerns through a comprehensive review and intelligent fault diagnosis.

Lin et al. [8] provide a thorough review of control strategies for four-switch buck–boost converters, a topology widely used in EV applications due to its ability to handle wide input voltage ranges and bidirectional power flows. By systematically classifying and comparing existing control methods, including linear, nonlinear, and digital approaches, the authors offer a valuable reference for both researchers and practitioners. This review not only summarizes the state of the art but also identifies open challenges and future research directions in converter control.

Complementing this system-level perspective, Wang et al. [9] focus on fault detection in power converters using a hybrid MLCA–SpikingShuffleNet model. By combining convolutional attention mechanisms with spiking neural networks, the proposed method achieves high accuracy in identifying converter faults under various conditions. This work highlights the increasing importance of data-driven techniques in enhancing the safety and reliability of EV power electronics, paving the way for predictive maintenance and fault-tolerant operation.

3. Conclusions

Taken together, the contributions in this Special Issue reveal several converging trends in the development of EV power electronics. First, there is a clear shift toward intelligent and adaptive systems, as evidenced by the increasing use of neural networks, machine learning, and advanced nonlinear control. Second, the emphasis on bidirectional and multi-mode converters reflects the growing importance of regenerative braking, V2G, and hybrid energy architectures. Third, system reliability and fault tolerance are gaining prominence, driven by the need for safe and durable EV operation at scale.

Moreover, the diversity of application scenarios—from wireless power transfer and regenerative braking to fuel cell hybrid vehicles—underscores the expanding role of power electronics as an integrative technology bridging energy sources, storage systems, and loads within the EV ecosystem.

This Special Issue of the World Electric Vehicle Journal presents a coherent and timely collection of nine papers that collectively advance the state of the art in power electronics for electric vehicles. By addressing emerging energy interfaces, innovative converter topologies, advanced control strategies, and intelligent fault diagnosis, these contributions reflect both the technical depth and the practical relevance of current research efforts.

Looking forward, the continued integration of wide-bandgap devices, artificial intelligence, and system-level optimization is expected to further transform EV power electronics. As electric vehicles increasingly interact with smart grids and renewable energy systems, power electronics will play a central role in enabling not only efficient mobility, but also a sustainable and resilient energy future.

The Guest Editors hope that this Special Issue will serve as a valuable reference for researchers, engineers, and practitioners and will inspire further innovation in the rapidly evolving field of electric vehicle power electronics.