A system 10 provides a variable output voltage to a DC brush motor. The system includes a DC brush motor 14, a DC voltage source 12, a step-up, step-down DC/DC converter 16 including a switch 18. The DC/DC converter is constructed and arranged to step-up and step-down voltage from the source to provide an output voltage to the motor between 0 and 42 volts. A control unit 22 is constructed and arranged to receive an input signal 20 and to control the switch based on the input signal to control the motor.