State-of-the-art DC–DC converters for electric mobility and renewable integration: trends, challenges, and future directions

As electric vehicles and renewable energy systems become more widespread, there
is an increasing need for DC-DC converters that can provide higher voltage gain, better
efficiency, and improved reliability. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the latest
advancements in enhanced gain DC-DC converter technologies. It covers a range of topologies
including interleaved, coupled-inductor, switched-capacitor, multiport, and resonant
converters, each suited for different application requirements. The review also explores the role
of emerging semiconductor materials such as silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN),
as well as the integration of modern control strategies like model predictive control (MPC),
fuzzy logic, and sliding mode control. Artificial intelligence (AI) and digital twin technologies
are also discussed as tools for improving real-time performance and predictive maintenance.
Through comparative studies and application-specific recommendations, this paper identifies
key research gaps and future directions that could enhance scalability, cost-effectiveness, and
thermal performance in power conversion systems for EVs and renewable energy.
Key words: DC-DC Converters, Electric Vehicles (EVs), Renewable Energy Systems, High
Gain Converters, Wide-Bandgap Semiconductors