A variable speed drive is provided having a converter to convert an AC voltage to a DC voltage, a DC link to filter and store energy from the converter, and a plurality of inverters. Each inverter is configured to convert a DC voltage to an AC voltage and is electrically connected in parallel to the DC link. An interleaved pulse width modulation control technique is used to control the operation of the plurality of inverters and possibly the converter to lower the RMS ripple current in the DC link.