Boost DC–DC Converter Topologies for ViPV Systems: A Technical Review

The integration of photovoltaics into electric vehicles ViPV imposes constraints, including partial shading, curvature induced irradiance gradients, and low profile packaging that challenge conventional DC DC converter designs. This paper reviews 115 boost derived topologies and evaluates their suitability considering electrical, geometric, thermal, and mechanical conditions in automotive environments. A multi criteria evaluation framework is introduced, combining voltage gain, light load efficiency, input current ripple, magnetic volume, and mismatch tolerance, assessed using weighted charts. The analysis shows a divergence between domains. Isolated topologies such as DAB and LLC suit kilowatt scale traction and charging, but their magnetic footprint and light load losses make them unsuited to module level ViPV. In contrast, distributed power processing architectures, especially active clamp flyback converters at submodule level and multi input MISO boost aggregation, emerge as structurally coherent options. The results highlight the potential of hybrid ACF MISO converters with GaN devices to reconcile high gain, low ripple, and minimal vertical profile in solar electric vehicles.