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Honda has developed an electric powertrain for a 2017 plug-in hybrid vehicle using its second-generation SPORT HYBRID i-MMD powertrain system as a base. The application of the newly developed powertrain system realizes a long all-electric range (AER), allowing operation as an EV for almost all everyday driving scenarios, with dynamic performance making it possible for the vehicle to operate as an EV across the entire speed range, up to a maximum speed of 100 mph. The amount of assist provided by power from the batteries during acceleration has been increased, helping to downsize the engine while also balancing powerful acceleration with quietness achieved by controlling racing of the engine. In order to realize this EV performance with the second-generation SPORT HYBRID i-MMD system as the base, it was necessary to increase the power output of the DC-DC converter, taking restrictions on space into consideration.

The development of Li-ion battery performance in next ten years will encourage improving a power density of Electric Vehicles (EVs). A higher voltage system with a boost voltage converter is favorable for the EV system if the converter has large power in small size. For increasing the converter power density, interleaved topologies using close-coupled inductors are shown to be superior. The inductor set of 3-phase type is proved to be smaller in size and lose less power in comparison to that of 2-phase type for high powered EV system having a 200∼400 volt battery. The prototype 3- phase converter using IGBT with 15 kHz switching frequency achieved a power density of 21.4 kW/liter at 120 kW output on a boost ratio of 1.38 with 98.0% efficiency, which also achieved more than 97% efficiency in a frequent usage zone.