AD/DC converter with neutral voltage lift capacitor

There is provided a bi-directional AC/DC converter comprising a first AC terminal for connection to a first AC circuit terminal, a neutral line terminal for connection to a neutral AC circuit terminal, a common node, a first AC side active bridge coupled between the first AC terminal and the common node, and a neutral voltage lift capacitor coupled between the neutral line terminal and the common node. Furthermore the converter comprises a first DC terminal, a second DC terminal and a buffer capacitor arranged between the first DC terminal and the second DC terminal. A DC-side active bridge is coupled between the first DC terminal and the second DC terminal. A first inductor is coupled between a switchable node of the first AC side active bridge and a switchable node of the DC side active bridge. A controller is arranged to control the first AC side active bridge and the DC-side active bridge so that an alternating voltage across the first AC terminal and the neutral line terminal is converted to and from a direct voltage across the first DC terminal and the second DC terminal.