A method and apparatus for low voltage conversion and energy storage uses a charge pump array including a first set of capacitors in parallel with a second set of capacitors and switches for selectively coupling the first and second set of capacitors to a variable input DC voltage. A data processor programmably controls one or more of the switches to couple the first and second set of capacitors to the variable input DC voltage for a variable first time period during which the input DC voltage charges the first and second set of capacitors to a DC voltage level. An energy storage device is switchably coupled to an output of the charge pump array. The data processor programmably controls one or more of the switches to couple the charge pump array output to the energy storage device for a variable second time period during which a voltage stored across each of the capacitors during the first time period is combined to produce a higher voltage significantly higher than the input DC voltage, the higher voltage being provided to the energy storage device.