To reduce the cost, mass, and volume of power electronic converters, there is a clear trend toward increased integration. This evolution is particularly relevant for electric vehicles, but is also increasingly adopted in industrial applications.

This integration includes both the physical combination of components within a drivetrain—such as the motor, inverter, and gearbox—and the integration of functionalities, for example using the traction inverter’s power module as an on-board charger.

With this research, I aim to continue and expand my activities in the domain of integrated power electronics. Specifically, I intend to conduct exploratory research on the integration of the inverter with the battery cells. To this end, I plan to apply the modular power electronics concepts developed within the Flanders Make SBO MODULAR project and combine them with integration into the high-voltage battery. In this integrated system, the functionalities of the traction inverter, charging (including grid support), battery management system, and power distribution—including auxiliary systems—are brought together