Review of control challenges and research opportunities in boost power factor correction converters for EV battery charging applications

The rising global adoption of light battery electric vehicles (BEVs) highlights the need for efficient charging solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and comply with harmonics standards. The increasing use of light electric vehicles (LEVs) has driven the demand for high-performance front-end power factor corrections (PFC) boost AC-DC converters in battery charging applications. These converters are essential for improving power quality, reducing total harmonic distortion (THD), enhancing power factor, and increasing efficiency. However, challenges in voltage and current double-loop control hinder their optimal performance. A major issue in the voltage loop is the double-line frequency output voltage ripple, which affects reference generation and dynamic performance. In the current loop, key challenges include zero-crossing distortion (ZCD) and inductor reference current tracking errors, leading to degraded power quality. This review systematically evaluates the primary control challenges, supported by simulation and hardware results, and explores emerging solutions for PFC boost converters in light EV charging. A comparative analysis of various control strategies and advanced modulation techniques is provided, outlining their advantages and limitations in enhancing converter efficiency and performance. Additionally, this may provide future research directions to address existing challenges and enhance power factor correction in next-generation LEV charging systems.