Performance Evaluation of Two-Level and Three-Level NPC Inverters in Electric Vehicles under Various Drive Cycles and Switching Frequencies

Mohammed Madhat Abualnaeem; Saiful Azrin Bin Mohd Zulkifli; Faheem Ijaz; Hassan Ali Soomro

doi:10.48084/etasr.10194

Authors

Mohammed Madhat Abualnaeem Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Malaysia
Saiful Azrin Bin Mohd Zulkifli Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Malaysia
Faheem Ijaz Mechanical Engineering Department, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Malaysia
Hassan Ali Soomro Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Malaysia

Volume: 15 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 25605-25611 | August 2025 | https://doi.org/10.48084/etasr.10194

Received: 11 January 2025 | Revised: 31 January 2025, 11 February 2025, and 15 February 2025 | Accepted: 16 February 2025 | Online: 15 July 2025

Corresponding author: Mohammed Madhat Abualnaeem

Abstract

Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles contribute significantly to environmental pollution, rendering Electric Vehicles (EVs) essential for sustainability. Inverters are an important component of the EV propulsion system, and their design has a big impact on the system's overall efficiency. This study compares the performance of two topologies of the inverters, which are the two-level and three-level Neutral Point Clamped (NPC) inverters. Furthermore, the impact of switching frequency on the inverter's efficiency and Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) was analyzed. The analyses were conducted using MATLAB/Simulink to model the EV propulsion system, including the vehicle body, and PLECS to calculate power losses and efficiency. The inverters were tested under two drive cycles, the Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule (UDDS) and the Highway Fuel Economy Test (HWFET), to cover torque-speed operating points and provide a comprehensive view of their performance. The results demonstrate that the three-level inverter outperforms the two-level inverter by reducing both power losses and THD, thereby improving the overall efficiency of EVs. These findings suggest that the three-level inverter is a more sustainable option for EVs.

Keywords:

two-level NPC inverter, three-level NPC inverter, EV, PMSM, SVPWM, efficiency maps

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