[gregski]

Newb question, in the video below Damien Maguiare demonstrates how you can charge a Prius Gen 2 battery using it's Inverter/Converter single box solution. Since this can be done, why for example does the Nissan Leaf come with a separate battery charger? Why not just rely on the Inverter/Convert in it's pancake stack?

Prius Inverter Battery Charger Part 1

 

[gregski]

The inverter is a 3-phase inverter (vs either single phase or split phase for chargers). Also, the voltage is different. The leaf inverter is 350v nominal. Chargers only have to be rated for 240v nominal.

Thank you, I believe most or at least some Inverters are also Converters so thinking in terms of EV Conversions and using Damien's or someone elses aftermarket controller one ought to be able to command the Converter to step down the voltage, no?

 

[gregski]

Inverter and charger are two drastically different devices. An inverter doesn't do any voltage conversion, it's just PWM-ing the input voltage. A charger is a full-blown step-up/step-down converter with a dedicated transformer. I can imagine, that an inverter can be used as a charger in some limited cases, but its input/output voltage range is going to be very restricted and efficiency is going to be poor.

Sorry let me clarify I meant an Inverter/Converter combo unit, why can't we use that, so essentially why can't we use a Converter as a Charger?

 

[gregski]

Disregard his response. His answer applies to controllers intended for brushed motors, but not AC or BLDC controllers.

I'm sorry I'm confused, disregard who's response?

 

[gregski]

what Frigzy said about "simple PWM" doesn't apply to AC/BLDC controllers(inverters).

ah, thanks

 

[gregski]

so here is an ignorant question, explain to me how the Prius Inverter/Converter is working then in the video above?

 

[gregski]

Let's think about this. The standard currently is to have a costly EVSE that interfaces an on-board ac charger in the car with the AC power line, usually in a garage. And, the standard includes as an option a quick charge port that connects directly to the battery to allow DC charging directly from an external DC charger at a quick charge station.
It's time to rethink these processes. Why carry an on-board ac charger around as an extra cost and extra weight in the car when you have external DC chargers available? Why not remove the AC Charger and install it to the AC line in the garage so it will charge directly to the quick charge port?
It's time to shift gears and think making the current processes more efficient,less convoluted and less costly, i.e., removing the ac charger to the garage, dumping the lead acid battery for a LFP replacement and requiring all U.S. EVs to standardize on the CCS standard instead of the Japanese or Teslarese standard.

I hear you it's like ditching the spare tire on modern cars, or not having a starter on race cars, of course DC to DC charging seams like the way to go since there won't be any conversion loss from AC to DC