Design and implementation of a microcontroller based interleaved DC-DC boost converter for fuel cell electric vehicles

Many modern equipment require highly efficient step-up dc-dc converters to power output loads operated at much higher voltages using a lower voltage source. Such applications include the power trains used in Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCV), Electric Vehicles (EV), and Hybrid Electric Vehicles. Usually, the energy storage elements in these types of vehicles have a lower output voltage while the motors need to be driven at higher voltages. This paper proposes an interleaved DC-DC boost converter for vehicle applications to further improve performance, minimize voltage and current ripples, and reduce the size of passive components. The design is simulated using Proteus 8 and tested through experimentation using a PIC24H microcontroller. Results show that the proposed design effectively reduces component size and improves the reliability of the power system.