PCT No. PCT/US96/19898 Sec. 371 Date Apr. 21, 1999 Sec. 102(e) Date Apr. 21, 1999 PCT Filed Dec. 12, 1996 PCT Pub. No. WO97/21920 PCT Pub. Date Jun. 19, 1997A high power, high energy inductive ignition system with a parallel array of multiple ignition coils Ti (2a, 2b) and associated 600 volt unclamped IGBT power switches Si (8a, 8b), for use with an automotive 12 volt storage battery (1), the system having an internal voltage source (12) to generate a voltage Vc approximately three times the peal primary coil current with coils Ti of low primary inductance of about 0,5 millihenry and of open E-type core structure for spark energy in the range of 120 to 250 mj, the system using a lossless snubber and variable control inductor (6) to provide very high circuit and component efficiency and high coil energy density, in mj/gm, three times that of conventional inductive ignition systems, and high output voltage of 40 kilovolts with fast rise time of 10 microseconds.