Boosting a regenerative voltage and selecting a boost converter based on efficiency

1. A voltage conversion device, comprising:

a first converter that boosts a direct current input voltage that is equal to or higher than a predetermined reference voltage to a direct current first voltage;

a second converter that boosts the direct current input voltage that is lower than the reference voltage to a direct current second voltage that is lower than the direct current first voltage;

a controller that switches between the first converter and the second converter; and

a power storage unit that includes a plurality of battery cells, the power storage unit storing therein an electric power output from the first converter or the second converter, wherein

the first converter boosts the direct current input voltage that is equal to or higher than the reference voltage to the direct current first voltage more efficiently than the second converter boosting the direct current input voltage that is equal to or higher than the reference voltage to the direct current first voltage,

the second converter boosts the direct current input voltage that is lower than the reference voltage to the direct current second voltage more efficiently than the first converter boosting the direct current input voltage that is lower than the reference voltage to the direct current second voltage,

the controller turns on the first converter and turns off the second converter, causing the first converter to boost the direct current input voltage when the direct current input voltage is equal to or higher than the reference voltage, thereby increasing a ratio of an electric power output than when the second converter boosts the direct current input voltage,

the controller turns off the first converter and turns on the second converter, causing the second converter to boost the direct current input voltage when the direct current input voltage is lower than the reference voltage, thereby increasing a ratio of an electric power output than when the first converter boosts the direct current input voltage, and

when a first connection mode is a state of forming a total battery cell group in which all the battery cells are connected in series, and a second connection mode is a state of forming a plurality of divided battery cell groups in which a part of the battery cells are connected in series, and each of the divided battery cell groups includes battery cells differing from one another, the controller charges the power storage unit in the first connection mode when the first converter boosts the direct current input voltage to the direct current first voltage, and charges the power storage unit in the second connection mode when the second converter boosts the direct current input voltage to the direct current second voltage.

2. The voltage conversion device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a voltage detector that detects voltage of the divided battery cell groups, wherein

the controller detects the voltage of each of the divided battery cell groups using the voltage detector and charges the divided battery cell group having a relatively low voltage, in the second connection mode.

3. The voltage conversion device according to claim 1 , wherein when the first converter boosts the direct current input voltage to the direct current first voltage, a ratio of an electric power output of the first converter relative to the direct current input voltage is higher than that of the second converter, and when the second converter boosts the direct current input voltage to the direct current second voltage, a ratio of an electric power output of the second converter relative to the direct current input voltage is higher than that of the first converter.

4. The voltage conversion device according to claim 1 , wherein the direct current input voltage is a regenerative voltage.