Series and parallel connections change over system for electric double layer capacitors (EDLCs) to electric vehicle energy saving

This paper describes application of the electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) blocks with the change over between the series and the parallel modes, to the traction inverter circuit for pure electric vehicles. Although it is generally required to equip a power converter for keeping output voltage at constant value against the EDLC terminal voltage fluctuation, the simpler changing over system is enough to work within the allowance of the do input voltage of the traction inverter. The results of actual running tests by a pure electric vehicle show effectiveness and availability of this system.