Current harmonics generated by electric vehicle battery chargers

This paper presents the results and analysis of data collected in the three groups of electric vehicle battery chargers during three consecutive years: 1993, 1994, and 1995. The first group of battery chargers consisted of 27 chargers. The generated harmonics in these chargers are significant. Total current harmonic distortion was in the range from 20.2% to over 112.4% with an average of 50.1%. The second group consisted of seven on-board chargers in production-type vehicles. The generated current harmonics in these vehicles are lower. The total current harmonic distortion is in the range from 17.12% to 101.81% with an average of 45.17%. The third group of chargers tested in 1995 consisted of four on-board battery chargers in production vehicles. The latest technology is implemented in these chargers so the generated current harmonics are very low. The total current harmonic is in the range from 3.720% to 7.18% with an average of 6.12%. The collected data shows that battery charger manufacturers have significantly improved the charging technology in terms of current harmonics