Bidirectional DC-DC Converter Topologies for Hybrid Energy Storage Systems in Electric Vehicles: A Comprehensive Review

Yan Tong, Issam Salhi, Qin Wang (), Gang Lu and Shengyu Wu
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Yan Tong: Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
Issam Salhi: FEMTO-ST Institute, CNRS, UTBM, Université Marie et Louis Pasteur, F-90000 Belfort, France
Qin Wang: Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
Gang Lu: State Grid Energy Research Institute, Beijing 102209, China
Shengyu Wu: State Grid Energy Research Institute, Beijing 102209, China

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 9, 1-29

Abstract: Electric Vehicles (EV) significantly contribute to reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable transportation. Among EV technologies, hybrid energy storage systems (HESS), which combine fuel cells, power batteries, and supercapacitors, have been widely adopted to enhance energy density, power density, and system efficiency. Bidirectional DC-DC converters are pivotal in HESS, enabling efficient energy management, voltage matching, and bidirectional energy flow between storage devices and vehicle systems. This paper provides a comprehensive review of bidirectional DC-DC converter topologies for EV applications, which focuses on both non-isolated and isolated designs. Non-isolated topologies, such as Buck-Boost, Ćuk, and interleaved converters, are featured for their simplicity, efficiency, and compactness. Isolated topologies, such as dual active bridge (DAB) and push-pull converters, are featured for their high voltage gain and electrical isolation. An evaluation framework is proposed, incorporating key performance metrics such as voltage stress, current stress, power density, and switching frequency. The results highlight the strengths and limitations of various converter topologies, offering insights into their optimization for EV applications. Future research directions include integrating wide-bandgap devices, advanced control strategies, and novel topologies to address challenges such as wide voltage gain, high efficiency, and compact design. This work underscores the critical role of bidirectional DC-DC converters in advancing energy-efficient and sustainable EV technologies.

Keywords: electric vehicle; hybrid energy storage system; bidirectional DC-DC converter; batteries; fuel cell electric vehicles (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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