EV Charging Station Solutions

AC/DC and DC/DC modules are used in EV chargers as auxiliary power supplies, DC/DC and point of load converters. RECOM offers a range of products suitable for the application

Electric vehicles are the future, reducing the global environmental impact of transport, assisted by battery charging using low carbon footprint electricity generation. Battery chargers must themselves be energy efficient and cost effective to enhance the viability of EVs and engineers are continually seeking ways to improve their designs. The technology in the main power conversion stage in an EV battery charger running at the multi-kW level has advanced using the latest topologies and semiconductor types, but any modular auxiliary supplies must also contribute low losses and offer good value.

AC/DC Auxiliary Supplies

AC/DC auxiliary supplies can be used to keep housekeeping functions active while disabling the main converter, giving low standby losses to comply with energy saving standards. The auxiliary supply operates in the same environment as the main converter and must therefore withstand temperature extremes and variations often seen in roadside charger installations. The electrical environment is also likely to be overvoltage category three (OVC III) with potential for dips, surges and transients from other equipment and lightning strikes. The AC supply available to an auxiliary AC/DC may be three-phase 480 VAC, 115/230 VAC or 277 VAC. RECOM offers cost effective, fully-certified parts rated from 2 W to 10 W in module format covering these voltage ranges, with some products suitable for direct connection to OVC III systems. A wide selection of outputs is available with products rated for -40 to +85°C operation.

DC/DC Converters

Isolated DC/DC converters provide various auxiliary voltages from a charger system DC power rail. RECOM Power is well known for its wide DC/DC product offering, suitable for all applications including battery charging systems. Power output ranges include sub-1 W to 40 W with products in a variety of mechanical formats and footprints, all with class-leading efficiency. Fixed and wide input voltage ranges are available and some products include an input range to 160 V, suitable for strings of batteries. As with the AC/DC power supplies from RECOM Power, their DC/DC products carry various safety certifications and are suitable for reliable operation in harsh environments and temperature extremes.

Switching Regulator

Non-isolated switching regulators provide tightly regulated power rails for general EV charger circuitry and as Point-of-Load converters (PoLs) for sensitive components such as CPUs, FPGAs and SoC devices, often with sub-1 V power rails. The RECOM Power range includes parts with 97%+ efficiency and current ratings to 50A in a wide variety of formats and footprints, from a simple three-terminal linear regulator high-efficiency replacement, to devices using RECOM’s ‘3D power packing’ concept in LGA and gullwing footprints, achieving highest-in-class power density. Output voltages are typically adjustable with some parts featuring comprehensive control and monitoring functions. All parts are highly cost-effective and operate over wide temperature extremes with high reliability.