VisIC Technologies and AVL Announce a Partnership for Advancing GaN-Based EV Traction Inverters
VisIC’s GaN power devices can be produced in widespread 200mm and 300mm silicon foundries.
VisIC Technologies and AVL Announce a Partnership for Advancing GaN-Based EV Traction Inverters
A new collaboration between VisIC Technologies and AVL aims to develop high-efficiency GaN inverter technology for the electric vehicle market. Through this partnership, power semiconductors that outperform silicon carbide (SiC) will be made available to automotive OEMs at a lower device and system level.
An inverter built using VisIC’s GaN-on-Silicon D³GaN components demonstrated exceptional performance in a recent test carried out at AVL’s cutting-edge facilities in Germany. The system, which is mounted on AVL’s e-motor test bench and is managed by AVL’s SOP eDrive controls algorithm, achieved a benchmark efficiency level of 99.67% at 10kHz and a startling climb to over 99.8% efficiency at 5kHz. This system is reducing energy losses by more than 60% and outperforming similar SiC inverters by up to 0.5%.
With this innovation, the AVL and VisIC collaboration is now positioned as a strong choice for manufacturers looking to balance price and high efficiency in EV design. It is important to note that, in comparison to SiC, VisIC’s GaN-on-Silicon power devices consume a lot less energy and, consequently, CO2 during the chip manufacture process. Due to their common manufacturing in silicon foundries that measure 200 mm and 300 mm, scaling production is a simple operation.
With AVL, VisIC Technologies claims to be opening up advanced GaN inverter technology to even more electric vehicles, setting a new standard for industry efficiency and affordability. This collaboration brings GaN’s unmatched performance to a wider market and demonstrates a shared commitment to advancing EV innovation that is both accessible and impactful.
Working with VisIC’s new GaN power module for high-power systems, according to AVL, allows them to provide their clients with state-of-the-art solutions that are well matched with the demands of next-generation drive systems. These consist of a high power density and lower total system expenses, among other things. When combined, they can greatly improve e-mobility and lessen carbon emissions.
To keep their technology scalable and responsive to the demands of the expanding BEV market, AVL and VisIC intend to extend their GaN-on-Si platform to incorporate 800V GaN power modules. Through this partnership, AVL and VisIC Technologies are leading the way in gallium nitride inverter technology and setting new benchmarks for performance and energy efficiency in the EV sector.
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