Summary
Electric vehicles (EVs) require an extremely efficient power train unit consisting of converters with very low power losses and a motor with excellent controllability, long life, and an extended speed range. Consequently, permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) drives are increasingly becoming popular for EV applications due to their higher torque density, better efficiency, and rugged structure. This paper explores the reduced switch five‐level transistor—clamped H bridge (TCHB) inverter topology for driving a PMSM, particularly for an EV application. The TCHB inverter emulates the modular structure of a cascaded H bridge (CHB) inverter, with each phase being energized by independent DC sources, thereby making it a natural fit for EVs. Simplified loss models have been developed to estimate the conduction and switching losses in the TCHB and CHB inverter circuits to assess their suitability for EV applications. An experimental prototype of the TCHB inverter, triggered with a novel space vector‐based modulation scheme, feeding a vector‐controlled PMSM has been designed, developed, and tested to ascertain the efficacy of this inverter‐motor electrical drive system for light‐duty EV applications, with regard to reduced losses, better DC bus utilization, diminished torque ripples, and improved dynamic response.