This article has been accepted for inclusion in a future issue of this journal. Content is final as presented, with the exception of pagination. 2 ||| 1556-6072/20©2020IEEE IEEE VEHICULAR TECHNOLOGY MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020 T his article offers a survey of recent solutions involv- ing electric drives and power chargers for fully elec- tric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid EVs (HEVs). Based on our research and experimental activities regarding electric drives, we also show experimental data from proto- types. After reviewing the opportunities and challenges of vehicle electrification, the article analyzes electric machines and power converters for two main market trends: 1) low-voltage (48-V) HEVs, allowing for a smooth transition from internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs), and 2) full EVs, operating above 200 V. First, we dis- cuss a 48-V integrated belt-driven starter generator (BSG), together with its tightly coupled power control electronics. Substituting a 12-V alternator, the BSG provides torque assistance to ICEVs for low-speed, start-stop and regenera- tive-braking functionalities, and electric power generation for onboard loads. Instead, new topologies of electric machines are needed for full EVs. To this end, we discuss and compare three types of permanent-magnet (PM) electric motors, with out- put power and torque levels of up to 64 kW and 511 Nm, respectively: interior PM (IPM), flux-switching PM (FSPM), and Vernier PM (VPM). Energy efficiency and pollutant emissions reduction can be further improved by adopting bidirectional power converters for HEV/ EV charging. Hence, we review a bidirectional charging system, also using renewable energy sources (RESs), to- gether with its power converter. Emerging Trends for Powertrain Electrification In vehicle design, the electrification of propulsion [1]–[7] is mainly performed to reduce the emission of pollutants in the air as well as the use of fossil fuels. The evolution toward electric and hybrid mobility has been accelerated by “Dieselgate” in Europe and the United States [2] and by the high economic cost (for ICEVs) of restrictive regula- tions over greenhouse gases. The key components that enable such a revolution are power converters [3] as well as electric machines and energy storage components [4]– [7]. Acceptable levels of carbon dioxide ( ) CO2 emissions in the United States, the European Union (EU), Japan, and China have been lowered from roughly 200 g of CO2 per traveled km in the 2000s to fewer than 100 g/km in 2020. For example, because of Euro 6.2 regulation, CO2 emis- sions in Europe should be reduced to within the limit of 95 ELECTRIC DRIVES AND POWER CHARGERS Recent Solutions to Improve Performance and Energy Efficiency for Hybrid and Fully Electric Vehicles Sergio Saponara, Christopher H.T. Lee, Nelson Xuntuo Wang, and James L. Kirtley, Jr. Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MVT.2019.2959343 Date of current version: 14 January 2020