Ideal Power, a specialist in the development and commercialization of highly efficient and broadly patented B-TRAN™ bidirectional power switches, announced that a leading manufacturer of commercial electric vehicles (EVs), EV powertrain components and EV charging infrastructure will be sampling B-TRAN™ devices for use in power conversion applications in its commercial EVs, initially for the DC-DC converter, with other EV and EV charging applications potentially to follow. This represents Ideal Power’s third test and evaluation announcement in the EV space.
The power switch market for EV and hybrid EVs was approximately $1.5 billion in 2020 and, with a forecasted compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15%, is the fastest growing segment of the power switch market. Power semiconductor switches, which are the second highest cost component of EVs after batteries, representing 8-10% of the total EV production cost, are needed in the drivetrain, DC-DC converter and on-board charger and for circuit protection.
Replacing existing insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) with BTRAN™s is expected to increase drive cycle efficiency, reduce cooling requirements and either reduce battery size and cost or improve the driving range of EVs. B-TRAN™ significantly reduces the power losses of traditional power semiconductors, which typically account for about 20% of the total electric power losses in hybrid EVs and potentially more of the losses in an EV.
Additionally, the B-TRAN™, which is currently fabricated in silicon, can reduce component count by up to 75% in bidirectional applications and has the potential to offer a compelling and much lower cost alternative in EV applications to power semiconductors fabricated in silicon carbide.
“We are excited to collaborate with this EV leader and look forward to seeing the results of B-TRAN™ testing and evaluation in EV power conversion applications,” stated Dan Brdar, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ideal Power. “The fast switching, low conduction losses, and bidirectional capability of B-TRAN™ are well-suited for EVs, where fewer components and less weight mean better power efficiency and greater EV range. We are now working with a broad range of leading companies as well as smaller, innovative companies and research universities, in each of our target market segments – EVs, EV charging, renewable energy, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems for data centers, and solid-state circuit breakers – who are looking for new, more efficient approaches to their product offerings.”
Ideal Power’s patented semiconductor power switch, the Bidirectional Bipolar Junction Transistor, or B-TRAN™, reduces power losses by 50% or more over conventional power switches, depending on the application. B-TRAN™’s higher efficiency results in less heat being generated and therefore significantly lower thermal management requirements, requiring significantly smaller surface area to dissipate heat and giving rise to potentially smaller original equipment manufacturer products.
B-TRAN™ offers the industry’s only symmetric bidirectional operation, reducing the number of components required for an application by 75% as compared to a conventional bidirectional switch utilizing IGBTs and diodes. This highly efficient and unique symmetric operation provides a strong competitive advantage in bidirectional applications, which are growing rapidly as transportation electrifies and power generation shifts to renewable energy coupled with energy storage.
