A Chilean publication on the development of new fast-charging technologies for electric vehicles is among the most read internationally this year

This is an automated translation of the original release published in Spanish

PRESS RELEASE from SERC Chile
May 2025

As part of Chile's energy transition toward a cleaner and more sustainable energy mix, electric mobility has become a key pillar for reducing emissions from the transportation sector, which accounts for approximately one-third of the country's final energy consumption.

In this context, research and development of innovative technologies for fast charging electric vehicles are essential to facilitate their mass adoption and achieve the decarbonization goals set for 2035, which include the exclusive sale of zero-emission vehicles. Thus, the team led by Dr. Samir Kouro, principal investigator of the Solar Energy Research Center Chile (SERC Chile) and professor at the Department of Electronics at the Federico Santa María Technical University, has been recognized by the scientific publisher Wiley for the high visibility of their publication in the IET Power Electronics journal. Their article was highlighted among the top 10% of the most consulted globally during 2023, consolidating its impact in the field of power electronics and electromobility.

The study, titled “Transformerless Partial Power Converter Topology for Electric Vehicle Fast Charging,” was co-authored by Daniel Pesantez, Hugues Renaudineau, Sebastián Rivera, Alejandro Peralta, and Abraham Márquez Alcaide. It proposes an innovative transformerless partial power converter (PPC) topology for electric vehicle fast charging stations.

“As a team, we are delighted to be part of this recognition, which reflects not only the interest in technical solutions for electromobility, but also our capacity in Chile to develop applied science with international impact. It motivates us to continue driving innovation from our universities and research centers,” said Dr. Samir Kouro, principal investigator at SERC Chile.

Regarding the document, the initiative proposes that, unlike traditional designs, this architecture eliminates the high-frequency transformer and replaces it with an impedance network (a set of electrical components that regulates the flow of energy without the need for large structures), which reduces costs, simplifies infrastructure, and improves energy efficiency.

The proposal was validated through simulations and an experimental prototype in the laboratory, demonstrating its viability for real-world applications. These types of solutions are key to accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles in a global context of energy transition.