Circular Economy R-Strategies for Reliability-Oriented Modular DAB EV Charging with Phase Shedding

This paper investigates how circular economy strategies can extend the operational life of a modular dual active bridge (DAB) electric vehicle (EV) charger beyond what reliability studies predict. Two power-sharing strategies (PSSs) are analyzed for the same converter, with identical system efficiency and similar overall system lifetime. However, these two PSSs lead to significantly different DAB-level lifetime predictions. A circularity assessment is performed for both PSSs, focusing on the medium-long loops of the circular economy, namely refurbish, remanufacture, and repurpose. Lastly, a method is proposed to select the preferred PSS with the least environmental impact, based on the desired extended lifetime of the EV charger, which considers the market strategy adopted by the manufacturer.