Nidec and Renesas collaborate on semiconductor solutions for next-generation e-axles for EVs

Nidec Corporation and Renesas Electronics Corporation agreed to join forces on the development of semiconductor solutions for a next-generation E-Axle (X-in-1 system) that integrates an EV drive motor and power electronics for electric vehicles (EVs). The 3-in-1 unit E-Axle integrates a motor, inverter, and gearbox (reduction gear). To realize high-performance... Read more →


Vitesco Technologies signs $1.9B SiC long-term supply agreement with onsemi; investing $250M in SiC capacity expansion

Vitesco Technologies and onsemi announced a 10-year long-term supply agreement worth $1.9 billion (€1.75 billion) for silicon carbide (SiC) products to enable Vitesco Technologies’ ramp in electrification technologies. Vitesco Technologies, a leading international manufacturer of modern drive technologies and electrification solutions, is also providing an investment of $250 million (€230... Read more →


Infineon and Foxconn to partner on SiC collaboration and leverage respective expertise in EV development

Infineon Technologies AG, the global leader in automotive semiconductors, and Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn), the world’s largest electronics manufacturing services provider, aim to establish a long-term partnership in the field of electric vehicles (EV) to develop advanced electromobility with efficient and intelligent features. A recently signed Memorandum of Understanding... Read more →


Equipmake, a UK developer and manufacturer of electrification products for battery-electric vehicle drivetrains, will be showcasing its Ampere-220 e-axle system—a compact, lightweight, high-power electric drive system for manufacturers of high-performance EVs—at Battery Show Europe this week. Combining 3D-printed electric motors with all power electronics, including the company’s own silicon carbide... Read more →


DENSO and USJC announce mass production shipment of automotive IGBTs, targeting expanding EV market

DENSO and United Semiconductor Japan Co., Ltd. (USJC), a subsidiary of global semiconductor foundry United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC), announced a joint collaboration to produce insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBT), which have entered mass production at the 300mm fab of USJC. A first shipment ceremony was held to mark this milestone.... Read more →


High-voltage electrical subsystems throughout Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) require a mechanism to protect the high-voltage distribution and loads in the event of an overload condition. To provide BEV and HEV designers with a faster and more reliable high-voltage circuit protection solution, Microchip Technology has introduced... Read more →


ZF and Wolfspeed to open research center for silicon carbide semiconductors in the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region

As part of their strategic partnership announced earlier this year (earlier post), ZF and Wolfspeed announced their plans to establish a joint European R&D center for Silicon Carbide (SiC) power electronics in the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region. The new joint research facility is supported by the German federal government and the... Read more →


Bosch is expanding its semiconductor business with silicon carbide chips. The technology company plans to acquire assets of the US chipmaker TSI Semiconductors, based in Roseville, California. With a workforce of 250, the company is a foundry for application-specific integrated circuits, or ASICs. Currently, it mainly develops and produces large... Read more →


Infineon and SCHWEIZER extend cooperation in chip embedding to develop more efficient SiC automotive solutions

Infineon Technologies AG and Schweizer Electronic AG (ETR: SCE) are collaborating on an innovative way to further increase the efficiency of chips based on silicon carbide (SiC). Both partners are developing a solution to embed Infineon’s 1200 V CoolSiC chips directly onto printed circuit boards (PCB). This will increase the... Read more →


onsemi, a provider of intelligent power and sensing technologies, and premium electric mobility brand ZEEKR have entered a long-term supply agreement (LTSA). onsemi will provide its EliteSiC silicon carbide (SiC) power devices to increase the powertrain efficiency of ZEEKR’s smart electric vehicles (EVs), resulting in improved performance, faster charging speeds... Read more →


The technology group ZF will, from 2025, purchase silicon carbide (SiC) devices from STMicroelectronics. Under the terms of the multi-year contract, ST will supply a volume of double-digit millions of silicon carbide devices to be integrated in ZF’s new modular inverter architecture going into series production in 2025. ZF will... Read more →


DENSO has developed its first inverter with silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductors. This inverter, which is incorporated in the eAxle, an electric driving module developed by BluE Nexus Corporation, will be used in the new Lexus RZ, the automaker’s first dedicated battery electric vehicle (BEV) model, to be released March 30.... Read more →


Microchip Technology introduced the MPLAB SiC Power Simulator that quickly evaluates Microchip’s silicon carbide (SiC) power devices and modules across various topologies before committing a design to hardware. Microchip’s MPLAB SiC Power Simulator is a PLECS (Piecewise Linear Electrical Circuit Simulation)-based software environment designed in collaboration with Plexim (the providers... Read more →


CISSOID and Silicon Mobility have partnered to introduce a complete and modular Silicon Carbide (SiC) inverter reference design, providing customers with an innovative and customizable solution for electric motor drives up to 350kW/850V. The reference design includes a high voltage SiC-based power module, integrated Gate Driver board, Control board, DC... Read more →


Nissan unveiled its new approach to electrified powertrain development, which it calls “X-in-1”. Under the approach, core EV and e-POWER powertrain components will be shared and modularized, resulting in a 30% reduction, compared to 2019, in development and manufacturing costs by 2026. Through the X-in-1 approach, Nissan aims to increase... Read more →


onsemi to supply EliteSiC technology to BMW for 400V DC bus in next-gen EVs

onsemi, a provider of intelligent power and sensing technologies, announced a long-term supply agreement (LTSA) with BMW AG for onsemi’s EliteSiC technology in BMW’s electric drivetrains for 400 V DC Bus. onsemi’s latest EliteSiC 750 V M3 die is used in a full bridge power module delivering several hundred kilowatts... Read more →


McLaren Applied has selected STMicroelectronics (ST) as a key supplier of silicon carbide (SiC) power modules for its next-generation IPG5 800V inverter. The next-generation IPG5 800V silicon carbide inverter can power electric motors to more than 400kW peak, 250kW continuous, at an unprecedented weight and volume. It has been designed... Read more →


Stellantis will invest a total of $155 million in three Kokomo, Indiana, plants to produce new electric drive modules (EDM) that will help power future electric vehicles assembled in North America and to support the goal of 50% battery-electric sales in the US by 2030. With more than 25 battery-electric... Read more →


The Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) UK, with experts and stakeholders from industry, academia and funding and support bodies, has published an updated power electronics value chain which shows an end-to-end supply chain view of materials and components required for volume manufacturing of automotive inverters, converters, and onboard chargers. APC has... Read more →


At Tech Day 2023, Volkswagen Group Technology provided an outlook of upcoming electric car innovations in the areas of batteries, charging and electronic components. The focus was on the electric drive system of the future. Volkswagen is now developing pulse inverters and thermal management systems internally in addition to batteries... Read more →


Microchip to invest $880M to expand its SiC and Si capacity in Colorado

Microchip Technology, a provider of smart, connected and secure embedded control solutions, plans to invest $880 million to expand its silicon carbide (SiC) and silicon (Si) production capacity at its Colorado Springs, Colo. manufacturing facility over the next several years. One significant phase of the expansion is to develop and... Read more →


VisIC Technologies Ltd. has successfully tested its 2.2mΩ 650V half-bridge power module, consisting of 4 parallel 8mΩ Power FET, in a 3-phase configurationon a dyno-testbench using a PMSM motor at a major automotive OEM. Through this, VisIC Technologies has shown that its D³GaN (Direct Drive D-Mode Gallium-Nitride) semiconductor technology is... Read more →


BorgWarner supplying 800V SiC-based inverters to major OEM

BorgWarner is building upon its current 400V inverter business with a major global OEM by now also supplying 800V silicon carbide-based (SiC) inverters. The efficient and scalable high-voltage inverters are destined for battery electric vehicle (BEV) platforms. Two variants will be used in the passenger BEVs: one 250kW for passenger... Read more →


Rheinmetall PolyCharge JV wins first customer with multimillion-euro order for DC-link capacitors with NanoLam technology

Rheinmetall PolyCharge GmbH, a joint venture of Rheinmetall AG and PolyCharge America, Inc., has received its first order in the mid double-digit million euro range one year after it was founded. Its first customer, a well-known, globally operating supplier to the automotive industry, has ordered two different DC-link capacitors for... Read more →


Wolfspeed and ZF announced a strategic partnership that includes the creation of a joint innovation lab to drive advances in Silicon Carbide (SiC) systems and devices for mobility, industrial and energy applications. The partnership also includes a significant investment by ZF to support the planned construction of the world’s largest... Read more →


Vitesco joins Polestar 0 project to develop zero-carbon emissions inverter

Vitesco Technologies, a leading international supplier of modern powertrain technologies and electric mobility solutions, has joined the Polestar 0 project, an initiative to create the world’s first completely climate-neutral vehicle. (Earlier post.) Vitesco Technologies has been selected as a collaboration partner to develop the power electronics with the target to... Read more →


onsemi and VW Group collaborate on silicon carbide technology for traction inverters

onsemi signed a strategic agreement with Volkswagen AG to provide modules and semiconductors that enable a complete electric vehicle (EV) traction inverter solution for VW’s next-generation platform family. The semiconductors are part of an overall system optimization and provide a solution that will support the front and rear traction inverters... Read more →


Aircraft manufacturers designing “More Electric Aircraft” (MEA) are looking to convert the flight control systems from hydraulic to electric to reduce weight and design complexities. To meet the needs for an integrated and configurable power solution for aviation applications, Microchip Technology Inc. is introducing a new hybrid power drive module.... Read more →


CEA and Renault Group develop a very high efficiency bidirectional on-board charger

The CEA and Renault Group have jointly developed a new electronic power converter architecture directly integrated into the vehicle’s charger. The result of nearly three years of research and the subject of 11 joint patents, this power converter, developed from innovative materials and more compact, will reduce energy losses by... Read more →


Infineon Technologies is extending its cooperation with silicon carbide (SiC) supplier Resonac (formerly Show Denko). According to the new agreement, Resonac will supply Infineon with SiC materials for the production of SiC semiconductors, covering a double-digit share of the forecasted demand for the next decade. While the initial phase focuses... Read more →


onsemi SiC power module selected for Kia EV6 GT traction inverter

onsemi’s EliteSiC family of silicon carbide (SiC) power modules has been selected for Kia Corporation’s EV6 GT model. The electric vehicle accelerates from zero to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds and reaches top speed at 161 mph. Within the traction inverter of a high performance EV, the EliteSiC power module... Read more →


STMicroelectronics has released high-power modules for electric vehicles that boost performance and driving range. ST’s new silicon-carbide (SiC) power modules have been selected for Hyundai’s E-GMP electric-vehicle platform shared by KIA EV6 and several models. Five new SiC-MOSFET-based power modules provide flexible choices for vehicle makers, covering a selection of... Read more →


Mazda partners for the development and production of electric drive units

Mazda Motor Corporation is planning to complete the electrification of all vehicle models by 2030 and is currently working together with various partner companies on a range of electrification-related research projects that are also designed to stimulate the local economy and contribute to the development of local industry and innovation.... Read more →


ZF is presenting new electric drives for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. This latest generation of e-drives advances power density and energy efficiency due to numerous innovations at both the component and system level. These include the compact design of the drives, power electronics, and a resource-saving use of... Read more →


The Nikkei reports that Japan-based motor maker Nidec is planning to invest an estimated ¥100 billion (US$715 million) to build an e-axle plant in Mexico. The company is currently producing e-axles in China and Europe but will start making them in North America as well ahead of an expected surge... Read more →


BorgWarner to invest $500M in Wolfspeed, securing up to $650M in annual capacity for SiC devices

Wolfspeed and BorgWarner announced a strategic partnership that calls for BorgWarner to invest $500 million in Wolfspeed’s new $1.3-billion financing transaction in exchange for a silicon carbide device capacity corridor. Wolfspeed intends to offer, subject to market conditions and other factors, $1.300 billion aggregate principal amount of its Convertible Senior... Read more →


AMP, a global provider of connected battery management and charging technologies for electric mobility, announced the integration of Wolfspeed’s E-Series Silicon Carbide MOSFETs into AMP’s e-mobility Energy Management Unit (EMU). Using Wolfspeed’s innovative Silicon Carbide technology allows AMP to optimize battery performance, charging, and costs. AMP’s EMU is a combination... Read more →


Wolfspeed to supply SiC technology for inverters for Jaguar Land Rover electric vehicles

for Jaguar Land Rover and Wolfspeed announced a strategic partnership for the supply of Silicon Carbide (SiC) semiconductors for next-generation electric vehicles, delivering increased powertrain efficiency and extended driving range. Under its Reimagine strategy, Jaguar Land Rover is transforming to an electric-first business, to become carbon net zero across its... Read more →


Hillcrest Energy Technologies, a developer of power conversion technologies and control system solutions for next-generation electrical systems (earlier post), signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a global Tier 1 automotive leader in mobility innovation. According to the terms of the MOU, Hillcrest and the supplier will collaborate to integrate... Read more →


Hillcrest Energy Technologies, a developer of power conversion technologies and control system solutions for next-generation electrical systems, and Hercules Electric Mobility, a company bringing electric propulsion systems to market for recreational boating and marine applications, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU). Under the terms of the MOU, the companies... Read more →


Bosch is starting volume production of a new drive unit consisting of an electric motor and an integrated inverter for light commercial vehicles. The inverter controls the electric motor and provides the connection to the high-voltage battery. Compared to its predecessors, the new unit provides even higher power and torque... Read more →


Wolfspeed, a global leader in Silicon Carbide technology, will build a new multi-billion-dollar Materials manufacturing facility in Chatham County, North Carolina. The investment is targeted to generate a more than 10-fold increase from Wolfspeed’s current Silicon Carbide production capacity on its Durham campus, supporting the company’s long-term growth strategy, accelerating... Read more →


Sandia National Laboratories researchers recently delivered electricity produced by a new power-generating system to the Sandia-Kirtland Air Force Base electrical grid. The system uses heated supercritical carbon dioxide instead of steam to generate electricity and is based on a closed-loop Brayton cycle. The Brayton cycle is named after 19th century... Read more →


Based on new business awards and actions announced to date, BorgWarner believes it is already on track to achieve approximately $3.7 billion of electric vehicle revenue by 2025. The company now expects its 2022 electric vehicle revenue to grow to approximately $850 million—more than double what it was in 2021.... Read more →


innolectric and CBMM testing niobium materials in on-board charger

Germany-based innolectric AG, a provider of charging and power systems for electromobility, and Brazil-based niobium company CBMM are investigating whether nanocrystalline magnetic materials can significantly increase efficiency in electromobility. As part of the joint research work, an innovative soft magnetic core material with niobium is being tested in direct application... Read more →


Renault Group and Vitesco Technologies partner to develop power electronics for electric and hybrid powertrains

Renault Grou and Vitesco Technologies are entering a strategic partnership for the joint development and the production of power electronics in a “One Box” for electric and hybrid powertrains. Under this agreement, both partners will join their forces, contributing by their know-how and experience jointly to develop a power electronics... Read more →


Marelli presents 800V SiC inverter platform

Marelli has developed a new platform of 800V Silicon Carbide (SiC) inverters. Marelli presented the platform for the first time at the International VDI Congress “Dritev” (Drivetrain Transmission Electrification in Vehicles), held in Baden Baden, Germany, on 6-7 July. Due to its excellent performance at high temperature and high voltage—enabling... Read more →


From 2025 onwards, the next generation of BMW e-drives will be manufactured in its engine plant in Steyr, Austria—with both production and development on site—with eventual annual production capacity of more than 600,000 units. The BMW Group will be investing around €1 billion in competence development in this area between... Read more →


GKN Automotive has launched its next-generation inverter,v ompatible with advanced 800V electric vehicle technology. The upgraded product features a range of efficiency and lightweighting improvements to deliver market-leading performance and enhanced sustainability. The next-gen inverter, one of three modular elements of GKN Automotive’s eDrive platform, offers a 20% power output... Read more →