Concept, configuration, and application of on-board nanogrids for use in electric vehicles

Against the backdrop of increasingly serious climate change, researchers are attempting to extend macroscale carbon reduction research to smaller scales. With the rapid development and widespread application of electric vehicles (EVs), an effective approach for carbon reduction based on EVs has the potential to be developed. To coordinate and manage the EV platform in diverse application scenarios, the concept of an on-board nanogrid (OBNG), in which a nanogrid is combined with the EV, is proposed and defined, and the characteristics summarized. A configuration that includes a physical layer with the on-board hardware system; an information layer for logical control, energy management, and communication coordination; and an application layer that can cope with different working environments is proposed. A detailed introduction to the basic architecture and management mode of each layer is provided along with information concerning the relevant technologies for coordinated operation. New ideas and approaches to improve the existing performance are proposed, and finally, combined with a background of smart and low-carbon cities, major application scenarios are envisioned.