Dr. Piyush Kant Assistant Professor, Dept. of Electrical Engineering IIT-Kanpur

Specializing in Power Electronics, Electrical Machines & Drives.
Electrical Machines and Power Electronics Research Laboratory (EMPowER Lab)

Publications Projects Get in touch

🔍 Explore Our EMPowER Lab

EMPowER Lab (Electrical Machines and Power Electronics Research Laboratory)

The EMPowER Lab at IIT Kanpur is a state-of-the-art research facility focused on advanced power electronics and electric drive technologies. The lab works on the development of innovative power converter topologies, high-performance modulation and control strategies, and efficient semiconductor-based power processing solutions for electric mobility and grid-connected applications. It designs, fabricates, and experimentally validates high-power converters for electric vehicle fast-charging applications, develops embedded control platforms for power electronic systems, and explores high-frequency and multi-winding transformer design. In the area of motor drives, the lab emphasizes advanced control and implementation of PMSM, IPM, SynRM, PMaSynRM, and induction motor drives.

Mission and Key Research Areas @ EMPowER Lab

• High-frequency link isolated converters: design, control, and operation
• High-voltage and high-frequency power converters
• High-power converters: design, control, and operation
• Embedded systems design for power converters
• Design and development of SiC-based converters for EV charging applications
• Grid-connected EV charging stations with DC fast chargers and renewable energy integration
• Multi-winding transformers for multi-pulse AC–DC converters
• High-frequency transformer design
• Electrical motor drives and advanced drive control

Why Join EMPowER Lab?

EMPowER Lab at IIT Kanpur offers a strong research and learning environment in advanced power electronics and electric drives. The lab emphasizes end-to-end system development, spanning modeling and control to hardware design and experimental validation. Students and researchers work on industry-relevant problems in EV charging, wide-bandgap power converters, high-frequency transformers, and motor drives. The lab supports high-quality research outcomes, scholarly publications, and technical skill development, providing an excellent platform for academic growth and industry-oriented research.

EMPowER Lab IIT Kanpur

🎓 Research Scholars & Students

Ph.D. Scholars

Vivek Chaudhary

Ph.D. Scholar

Vivek Chaudhary

Research: High-power EV charging station design.

Year: 3rd Year

Focus: Power Electronics

Email: vivekch22@iitk.ac.in

Ashish Gupta

Ph.D. Scholar

Ashish Gupta

Research: HF Transformer, DC-DC, AC-DC, Grid Integration.

Year: 3rd Year

Focus: Converters & Magnetics

Email: ashishkg23@iitk.ac.in

Nilesh Pandey

Ph.D. Scholar

Nilesh Pandey

Research: Compact multilevel isolated bidirectional charger.

Year: 3rd Year

Focus: Power Electronics

Email: nileshp22@iitk.ac.in

Manish Kumar

Ph.D. Scholar

Manish Kumar

Research: Multilevel isolated bidirectional charger.

Year: 1st Year

Focus: Power Electronics

Email: manishk24@iitk.ac.in

Ved Pravir

Ph.D. Scholar

Ved Pravir

Research: Design of HFT for EV Charging Converter.

Year: 1st Year

Focus: Power Electronics

Email: vedhp24@iitk.ac.in

Subodh Chauhan

Ph.D. Scholar

Subodh Chauhan

Research: MV SST Based EV Fast Charger

Year: 1st Year

Focus: Power Electronics

Email: subodh24@iitk.ac.in

Alok Kumar Mishra

Ph.D. Scholar

Alok Kumar Mishra

Research:Design & development of Silicon Carbide MOSFET based multilevel converter propulsion system and its control software for Railways

Year: 3rd Year

Focus: Power Electronics

Email: alokkm23@iitk.ac.in

Saurabh

Ph.D. Scholar

Saurabh

Research:Back-to-back connected three-level NPC-fed synchronous motor drive.

Focus: Power Electronics

Email: saukmr@iitk.ac.in

Sachin Bhati

Ph.D. Scholar

Sachin Bhati

Research:Multi-motor (SCIM-PMSM) drive system.

Focus: Power Electronics

Email: bsachin20@iitk.ac.in

Master's Students

Sinoj K Saju

M.Tech

Sinoj K Saju

Research:Design and development of a 350kW bidirectional DC-DC converter for Electric Vehicle fast charging application.

Year:2nd Year

Focus:Power Electronics

Email:sinojks24@iitk.ac.in

Pavan Srikar

M.Tech

Pavan

Research:Design and Development of a SiC MOSFET-Based NPC Converter-Fed Induction Motor Drive for Electric Vehicle Applications

Year: 2nd Year

Focus: Power Electronics

Email: dursheti24@iitk.ac.in

Rajarsh Dwivedi

MSR

Rajarsh Dwivedi

Research:Development of Advanced High-Power EV Chargers

Year: 1st Year

Focus: Power Electronics

Email: rajarshd24@iitk.ac.in

Chokala J

M.Tech

Chokala J

Research:TBD

Year: 1st Year

Focus: Power Electronics

Email: email@iitk.ac.in

Leelendra

M.Tech

Nilendra

Research:TBD

Year: 1st Year

Focus: Power Electronics

Email: email@iitk.ac.in

Sai Kiran

M.Tech

Student Name

Research:TBD

Year: 1st Year

Focus: Power Electronics

Email: email@iitk.ac.in

Post-Doctoral Fellows

Dr. Deepak Singh

Post-Doctoral Fellow

Dr. Deepak Singh

Research Area: TBD

Expertise: Power Electronics

Projects: Ongoing

Email: deepaksh@iitk.ac.in

Dr. Priyankar Roy

Post-Doctoral Fellow

Dr. Priyankar Roy

Research Area: TBD

Expertise: Power Electronics & Drives / EV

Projects: Ongoing

Email: email@iitk.ac.in

Project Staff

Vaidyanath Sharma

Lab Incharge

Vaidyanath Sharma

Email: vaidyans@iitk.ac.in

Midhat Shabir Soherverdy

Junior Research Fellow

Midhat Shabir Soherverdy

Email: midhats@iitk.ac.in

Pintu Kumar

Project Assistant

Pintu Kumar

Email: pintuk@iitk.ac.in

💡 Research & Development Projects

🟢 Ongoing Projects

Grid Readiness for EV

Funds ₹24.8 Cr

Duration: 3 Years

Funding Agency: MAHA-EV, ANRF

Role: Co-Project Investigator (Co-PI)

V2G, V2H compatible smart charger with hybrid renewable power flow & grid synchronization.

Grid Connected EV Charging Station

Funds ₹67.39L

Duration: 3 Years

Funding Agency: ANRF

Role: Project Investigator (PI)

High-Power Density Solid-State Transformer Based Medium Voltage (11 kV) DC-Fast Charging Station.

Semiconductor and Digital Technologies

Funds ₹1 Cr

Duration: 1 Year

Funding Agency: ANRF-PAIR

Role: Co-Project Investigator (Co-PI)

GaN & SiC MOSFET Based Power Converters for EV On-Board Chargers.

Intelligent Micro-robotic System

Funds ₹98.8 L

Duration: 3 Year

Funding Agency: ANRF

Role: Co-Project Investigator (Co-PI)

Development of an Intelligent Micro-robotic System for Oncological Applications.

Assessment of an Electrical Stress in Locomotive

Funds ₹19.98 L

Duration: 6 Months

Funding Agency: INDIAN RAILWAYS

Role: Project Investigator (PI)

Consulatancy for Assessment of an Electrical Stress Traction Converters of WAG9H Locomotive Elctric Shed Kanpur

🔵 Completed Projects

Self-Navigating Smart Wheelchair

Funds ₹1 Cr

Duration: 2 Years

Funding Agency: IIT Kanpur

Role: Co-Project Investigator (Co-PI)

Autonomous Stairs/Escalator Climbing and Self-Navigating Smart Wheelchair.

Motor Drives System For Industrial Applications

Funds ₹46 L

Duration: 2 Years

Funding Agency: IIT-Kanpur

Role: Project Investigator (PI)

Design & Implementation of Synchronous Motor Drives for Industrial Usage.

Assessment of WAG9H

Funds ₹5.9L

Duration: 3 Months

Funding Agency: Indian Railways

Role: Project Investigator (PI)

Parameters assessment of WAG9H Locomotive at Electric Loco Shed Kanpur.

Off Board EV Charging Station

Funds ₹30.97L

Duration: 2 Years

Funding Agency: SERB

Role: Project Investigator (PI)

Development Of Multi-Pulse Converters Based High-Power Off-Board Charging System For Electric Bus Applications

🤝 Collaborations

Collaboration Logo

🎓 Education

2020

Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering

Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, India

Specialization: Power Electronics, Electrical Machines and Drives (PEEMD)

Thesis Supervisor: Prof. Bhim Singh

Thesis: Power Quality Improvement in Multi-Pulse Converter Fed Multilevel Inverter Based Induction Motor Drives

2015

M.Tech in Electrical Engineering

Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology Allahabad, India

Specialization: Power Electronics and Drives

Thesis Supervisor: Prof. Paulson Samuel

Thesis: Analysis and Implementation of Multicarrier Modulation for Marx multilevel Inverter

2012

B.Tech in Electrical Engineering

National Institute of Technology Agartala, India

Thesis Supervisor: Prof. Ajoy Kumar Chakraborty

Thesis: Space Vector Modulation Techniques for Voltage Source Inverter

💼 Experience

May 2022 - Present

Assistant Professor

Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, India

March 2020 - April 2022

Control Engineer

R&D Department, Danfoss Drives, Chennai, India

🔬 Research Interests

Power Electronics

Advanced research in multi-level inverters, AC-DC converters, and modulation techniques for high-power applications in industrial and automotive sectors.

⚡ Multi-level Inverters
🔄 Multi-Pulse AC-DC Converters
📊 Modulation Techniques
⚙️ Medium Voltage Drives
⚡

Electric Vehicle Systems

Cutting-edge research in EV drive systems,charging infrastructure, and energy-efficient motor control algorithms.

🚗 EV Drive Systems
🌱 Renewable Integration
🔌 Charging Infrastructure
🎯 Motor Control
🚗

Electrical Machines & Drives

Comprehensive research in synchronous machines, induction motors, and advanced control strategies for industrial automation and renewable energy.

🔄 PMSM, IPM, PMSynRM, SynRM
⚙️ Induction Motors
🎛️ Advanced Control Algorithms
⚙️ Parameters Optimization
⚙️

⚡ Power Electronics

Advanced research in multi-level inverters, AC-DC converters, and modulation techniques for high-power applications.

⚡ Multi-level Inverters
🔄 Multi-Pulse AC-DC Converters
📊 Modulation Techniques
⚙️ Medium Voltage Drives

🚗 Electric Vehicle Systems

Cutting-edge research in EV drive systems, charging infrastructure, and energy-efficient motor control algorithms.

🚗 EV Drive Systems
🌱 Renewable Integration
🔌 Charging Infrastructure
🎯 Motor Control

⚙️ Electrical Machines & Drives

Comprehensive research in synchronous machines, induction motors, and advanced control strategies.

🔄 PMSM, IPM, PMSynRM, SynRM
⚙️ Induction Motors
🎛️ Advanced Control Algorithms
⚙️ Parameters Optimization

📚 Courses Taught and Developed

🎓 Complete Teaching & Tutoring Record

S.N. Course Name Course Number Lecture / Lab / Tutorial
1High Power Converters: Design, Control and OperationEE698ILecture
2Electro Mechanical Energy Conversion (EMEC-Lab)EE-381Lab (lecture + coordination)
3Fundamentals of Electric DrivesEE 664Lecture
4Electro Mechanical Energy Conversion (EMEC-Lab)*EE-380ALab (Tutor)
5Introduction to Electrical EngineeringESO-203Lecture + Lab (Overall coordination)
6Fundamentals of Electric DrivesEE 664Lecture
7Electro Mechanical Energy Conversion (EMEC-Lab)*EE-380ALab (Tutor)
8High Power Converters: Design, Control and OperationEE698ILecture
9Electro Mechanical Energy Conversion (EMEC-Lab)EE-381A/481ALab (Tutor)
10Special Topics in Power ElectronicsEE666Lecture
11Electro Mechanical Energy Conversion (EMEC-Lab)*EE-380ALab (Tutor)
12High Power Converters: Design, Control and OperationEE698ILecture
13Electro Mechanical Energy Conversion (EMEC-Lab)EE-381A/481ALab (Tutor)
14Power SystemsEE 330ATutorial (Tutor)
15Introduction to Electrical EngineeringESO-203ATutorial (Tutor)

🏆 Awards & Recognition

🏅

Best Paper Award

IEEE International Conference on Electrical and Electronics Engineering (ICE3) 2020

2020
🏅

NPSC Young Engineer Award

IIT-Indore in Dec-2024

2024
🏅

Excellence in Teaching Awards

IIT Kanpur

Multiple Semester

🌟Our Mission

At our research group, we strive to push the boundaries of innovation in Power Electronics through creativity, deep scientific thinking, and real-world engineering impact.

We aim to inspire and empower the next generation of researchers and engineers to build technologies that are efficient, intelligent, and sustainable.

Our mission is to drive advancements in clean energy and next-generation mobility
for a better and smarter world

Prof. Piyush Kant

🎓 Opportunities

🔌

Power Electronics & Drives Research

Looking for students with Power Electronics and Drives background interested in modeling and designing of control algorithms (v/f, flux, DTC, etc.) for synchronous machines drives for various applications which covers five AC motors:

  • Induction motor
  • Permanent magnet synchronous motor
  • Interior permanent magnet motor
  • Permanent magnet assisted synchronous reluctance motor
  • Synchronous reluctance motor
⚡

High-Power Converters Research

Those who are interested in the area of modelling, design and control of high-power converters for medium voltage and medium power drive applications can also reach out to me:

  • Cascaded inverter
  • Neutral point clamped inverter
  • Hybrid converters
  • Medium voltage applications
  • Medium power drive systems
🚨