## Novel Fast-Charging Tech Could Accelerate India’s EV Infrastructure

With the surging popularity for electric vehicles (EVs), rapid charging is a challenge as it requires power delivery exceeding 1 MW (which can power about 1,000 homes). Conventional charging stations rely on bulky line frequency transformers (LFTs), which are expensive due to extensive use of copper and iron. These stations also have multiple conversion stages involving stepping up or down current, or converting AC to DC and vice versa. This can greatly increase cost and reduce efficiency.To solve this problem, researchers at the Department of Electrical Engineering (EE), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), in collaboration with Delta Electronics India, have developed a novel cascaded H-bridge (CHB)-based multiport DC converter that directly connects to the medium-voltage AC (MVAC) electricity grid. This eliminates the need for large and expensive LFTs.

published in IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, the study shows that such converters can definitely help address the growing power demands of fast-charging EV stations, crucial for scaling up India’s EV infrastructure.

“Today’s high-power chargers are complex, with multiple conversion stages between the grid, the energy storage, and the vehicle battery,” explains Kaushik Basu, associate professor in EE and corresponding author of the study.

“Our invention simplifies this process and offers a 3-5% advancement in energy efficiency. At a megawatt scale, this leads to energy saving, important reductions in cost, and a smaller material footprint, which makes the charging stations environmentally friendly.”

Faster Charging for Electric Vehicles with New Converter Technology

A new type of power converter promises to significantly reduce charging times for electric vehicles (EVs). Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science have developed a medium voltage AC to isolated multiport DC converter specifically designed for fast-charging stations. This innovation addresses a key bottleneck in current EV charging infrastructure – the efficient transfer of high power levels.

The newly developed converter efficiently transforms standard AC power into the DC power required by EV batteries. Its multiport design allows for multiple charging points to operate together from a single unit, optimizing space and cost.The isolation feature enhances safety by preventing direct electrical contact between the grid and the vehicle.

According to a study published in IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, the converter demonstrates high efficiency and reliability. This technology could pave the way for widespread deployment of ultra-fast charging stations, making EV ownership more convenient and accelerating the transition to sustainable transportation.

More data:

Harisyam PV, et al. Medium Voltage AC to Isolated Multiport DC Converter for Electric Vehicle Fast-Charging Stations,IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics (2025). DOI: 10.1109/TIE.2025.3589389

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indian Institute of Science