Power Quality Improvement in Hybrid E-Bicycles Using the Adaptive Reinforcement Current Tracking-based Super-Lift Converter
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25729/esr.2025.04.0009Keywords:
Active front end, Battery, Electric bicycle, Power factor correction, Total Harmonic DistortionAbstract
Electric bicycles are becoming increasingly popular as green mobility solutions. However, problems of low mileage, a poor power factor, and unstable charging voltage still persist. This study proposes a novel power management system with a Super-Lift Converter (SLC), Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)-regulated active front-end circuitry, and a flexible solar panel to address the issues. The system’s design uses a 350 W BLDC hub motor and a 36 V 10.4 Ah lithium-ion battery. A SLC is inserted between the charger and battery to achieve a high voltage transfer gain and voltage ripple of less than 1%. The incorporated FPGA runs an Adaptive Reinforcement-based Current Tracking (ARCT) algorithm to provide power factor correction by generating a synchronized reference inductor current with the input voltage waveform. A 60 W, 36 V flexible solar panel is attached to a secondary input of the SLC to provide solar-assisted charging and extend the vehicle range from 45 km to 50 km per charge. During charging of the 36–42 V lithium-ion battery, the system is powered from a 230 V AC grid, stepped down to 100 V AC using a transformer, along with the PV input. Experimental results attest to a dramatic reduction in total harmonic distortion and enhanced current tracking performance. The proposed system provides a sustainable and compact solution for electric bicycles and similar energy-efficient mobility platforms
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