Power-Dense Integrated Motor Drive Using a WBG-Enabled Current-Source Inverter for EV Traction Applications

Feida Chen; Sangwhee Lee; Wenda Feng; Ken Chen; Justin Paddock; Thomas M. Jahns; Bulent Sarlioglu

doi:10.1109/TTE.2025.3617908

Power-Dense Integrated Motor Drive Using a WBG-Enabled Current-Source Inverter for EV Traction Applications

Feida Chen
, Sangwhee Lee
, Wenda Feng
, Ken Chen
, Justin Paddock
, Thomas M. Jahns
, Bulent Sarlioglu

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

This article explores the major design considerations associated with the development of a high-power-density integrated motor drive (IMD) utilizing wide bandgap (WBG) power switches in a current-source inverter (CSI) for electric vehicle (EV) traction applications. The rationale for adopting the CSI for this application is presented, followed by a discussion of key design issues associated with all major IMD components, including the CSI itself, dc/dc converter, passive components, control algorithms, CSI-based electric motor, and the cooling system. By focusing attention on the IMD physical integration details, the optimized power electronics and machine can achieve active power densities of 115 kW/L and 55.6 kW/L, respectively. The performance of the proposed IMD system under different operating conditions is carefully evaluated using a combination of simulation and experimental test results. These results provide insights into the advantages that high-power-density IMDs based on CSI and WBG devices can provide for future EV traction drive systems, as well as the remaining technical challenges.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	542-555
Number of pages	14
Journal	IEEE Transactions on Transportation Electrification
Volume	12
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/TTE.2025.3617908
State	Published - Feb 2026
Externally published	Yes

Funding

This work was supported by U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) through the Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) under Award DE-EE0008704. Received 22 July 2025; accepted 19 September 2025. Date of publication 6 October 2025; date of current version 16 January 2026. This work was supported by U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) through the Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) under Award DE-EE0008704. (Corresponding author: Feida Chen.) Feida Chen, Sangwhee Lee, Ken Chen, Justin Paddock, Thomas M. Jahns, and Bulent Sarlioglu are with Wisconsin Electric Machines and Power Electronics Consortium, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706 USA (e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]).

Keywords

Current-source inverter (CSI)
electric vehicle (EV)
integrated cooling
integrated motor drive (IMD)
passive components
surface inset permanent magnet (SIPM) machine
wide bandgap (WBG) devices

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10.1109/TTE.2025.3617908

Cite this

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title = "Power-Dense Integrated Motor Drive Using a WBG-Enabled Current-Source Inverter for EV Traction Applications",

abstract = "This article explores the major design considerations associated with the development of a high-power-density integrated motor drive (IMD) utilizing wide bandgap (WBG) power switches in a current-source inverter (CSI) for electric vehicle (EV) traction applications. The rationale for adopting the CSI for this application is presented, followed by a discussion of key design issues associated with all major IMD components, including the CSI itself, dc/dc converter, passive components, control algorithms, CSI-based electric motor, and the cooling system. By focusing attention on the IMD physical integration details, the optimized power electronics and machine can achieve active power densities of 115 kW/L and 55.6 kW/L, respectively. The performance of the proposed IMD system under different operating conditions is carefully evaluated using a combination of simulation and experimental test results. These results provide insights into the advantages that high-power-density IMDs based on CSI and WBG devices can provide for future EV traction drive systems, as well as the remaining technical challenges.",

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Power-Dense Integrated Motor Drive Using a WBG-Enabled Current-Source Inverter for EV Traction Applications

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