The dual-active-bridge (DAB) converter serves as a crucial galvanic isolating solution to provide dc grid-forming for dc elements in low-voltage direct-current (LVdc) systems. Key performance metrics such as efficiency, current stress, power density, and cost of DAB converter are chiefly subject to the optimal design of magnetic components and modulation strategies. However, existing DAB converter designs yield compromised solutions that optimize a limited subset of these metrics. This article develops a comprehensive analytical framework to characterize DAB converter operation across three key dimensions: 1) zero-voltage switching (ZVS) range; 2) power rating utilization; and 3) reactive power. To achieve a well-balanced design, a holistic optimization methodology is proposed, integrating multiobjective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) with triple phase-shift control. By optimally selecting the transformer turns ratio and product of switching frequency and series inductance, the proposed MOPSO approach can collectively or selectively improve these performance aspects, enabling tailored DAB converter designs to meet diverse performance objectives. Experimental validation on a 1-kW DAB converter prototype demonstrates enhanced ZVS capability, improved utilization of converter rating, reduced reactive power, and achieves a peak efficiency over 95.9%. ... Read more

Partially rated DC interlinking converters are recognized for their high-gain power regulation capabilities, which effectively synergize active power across DC microgrids (DCMGs). Integrating energy storage units (ESUs) to address the intermittent nature of renewables in DCMGs has become an enhanced requirement for these converters. This article proposes a partially rated multiport interlinking converter (PMIC) that incorporates a distributed ESU. The PMIC controls a floating voltage and a bidirectional shunt current on the DC line, ensuring full galvanic isolation for the ESU while operating at a low DC-link voltage. It regulates multidirectional power flow and balances power during peak and off-peak periods. A decentralized droop-based power flow control strategy is proposed for the PMIC, which distributes renewable energy generation, load consumption, and ESU utilization proportionally across the system. The control strategy includes two tailored continuously differentiable activation functions, Sigmoid and Hyperbolic Tangent, to facilitate autonomous global power-sharing and seamless ESU engagement. Simulation and experimental case studies confirm the PMIC's capability to smooth renewable energy fluctuations and enhance the power and voltage profiles of DCMGs. ... Read more

The global race toward decarbonization has reached a transformative inflection point as electrification surges across the transportation sector in most of the world. No longer confined to passenger vehicles, electric mobility now spans trucks, ships, and even aircraft, driven by a confluence of environmental mandates, policy momentum, and technological innovation. Nowhere is this shift more pronounced than in Europe, where the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) envisions a seamlessly connected, zero-emissions infrastructure backbone by the midpoint of this century (Figure 1). At the heart of this revolution lies a new breed of ultrafast-charging technologies, electrified highways, and maritime ports—each pushing the limits of energy delivery, grid integration, and power electronics. Yet, as the charging power scales from kilowatts to multimegawatts, and as electric mobility moves from concept to logistics-critical reality, the challenges to the power grid—especially at the distribution level—are becoming clearly visible. This article explores the emerging architectures and innovations required to enable this new era of electric transport, from the Megawatt Charging System (MCS) to medium-voltage (MV) grid integration with solid-state transformers (SSTs) and grid-forming (GFM) battery energy storage systems (BESSs) as key components. ... Read more