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Schaeffler starts volume production of its high-voltage inverter brick
This first volume production is for a leading Chinese car manufacturer that is going to equip its new electric vehicle models with ultra-modern inverter brick technology.
www.schaeffler.com
Exemplified: High-voltage inverter brick produced in high volumes in Tianjin for a leading Chinese car manufacturer. Image: Schaeffler
For many years, Schaeffler has been setting standards in motion technology through its pioneering innovations and developments. With the launch of volume production of the high-voltage inverter brick in Tianjin, China, Schaeffler has reached an important milestone in its electrification strategy. This first volume production is for a leading Chinese car manufacturer that is going to equip its new electric vehicle models with ultra-modern inverter brick technology.
The Schaeffler inverter subassembly is the essential power device building block (brick) to control the electric drive via logic signals. This is where the high-frequency current pulses are produced that set the vehicle’s electric motor in motion. The performance characteristics of the inverter brick now being produced are impressive: At the customer’s request, Schaeffler increased the output of the block by increasing the maximum possible battery voltage to much more than the usual 800 V – and with RMS currents of up to 650 A, which turn the sub-module into a compact power pack.
Modularity and scalability as the key to easy integration
As a core component of an inverter, a brick has to meet strict requirements. The characteristics of the sub-module are indicative of the factors behind the current sales success and start of volume production: Thanks to the innovative silicon carbide (SiC) power semiconductor produced by the Schaeffler partner ROHM, the frame-mounted sub-module with high power density is compact, efficient and readily integrated into various inverters thanks to its modular and scalable design. The sub-module incorporates the power module for pulse width modulation (PWM) of the current pulses, the DC link capacitor, a DC link and a cooler. Moreover, the brick has a DC boost function, thanks to which a vehicle with 800 V architecture can also be charged at a 400 V charging station at a charging speed of 800 V. To satisfy the increased performance requirements of the Chinese car manufacturer, ROHM optimized the drain-source voltage of the SiC Chips integrated in the block according to the OEM expectations.
The strategic partnership of Schaeffler (originally initiated under Vitesco Technologies) with ROHM has existed since 2020 and serves to secure capacity for energy-efficient SiC power semiconductors.
Continuous development of inverter technology
The inverter brick now in volume production is yet another example of the strategy of developing other sub-modules that was initiated in 2023 with an overmolded inverter. Schaeffler is currently pressing ahead with the ongoing development of its inverter technology with an even greater degree of integration for future vehicle architecture.
For many years, Schaeffler has been setting standards in motion technology through its pioneering innovations and developments. With the launch of volume production of the high-voltage inverter brick in Tianjin, China, Schaeffler has reached an important milestone in its electrification strategy. This first volume production is for a leading Chinese car manufacturer that is going to equip its new electric vehicle models with ultra-modern inverter brick technology.
The Schaeffler inverter subassembly is the essential power device building block (brick) to control the electric drive via logic signals. This is where the high-frequency current pulses are produced that set the vehicle’s electric motor in motion. The performance characteristics of the inverter brick now being produced are impressive: At the customer’s request, Schaeffler increased the output of the block by increasing the maximum possible battery voltage to much more than the usual 800 V – and with RMS currents of up to 650 A, which turn the sub-module into a compact power pack.
Modularity and scalability as the key to easy integration
As a core component of an inverter, a brick has to meet strict requirements. The characteristics of the sub-module are indicative of the factors behind the current sales success and start of volume production: Thanks to the innovative silicon carbide (SiC) power semiconductor produced by the Schaeffler partner ROHM, the frame-mounted sub-module with high power density is compact, efficient and readily integrated into various inverters thanks to its modular and scalable design. The sub-module incorporates the power module for pulse width modulation (PWM) of the current pulses, the DC link capacitor, a DC link and a cooler. Moreover, the brick has a DC boost function, thanks to which a vehicle with 800 V architecture can also be charged at a 400 V charging station at a charging speed of 800 V. To satisfy the increased performance requirements of the Chinese car manufacturer, ROHM optimized the drain-source voltage of the SiC Chips integrated in the block according to the OEM expectations.
The strategic partnership of Schaeffler (originally initiated under Vitesco Technologies) with ROHM has existed since 2020 and serves to secure capacity for energy-efficient SiC power semiconductors.
Continuous development of inverter technology
The inverter brick now in volume production is yet another example of the strategy of developing other sub-modules that was initiated in 2023 with an overmolded inverter. Schaeffler is currently pressing ahead with the ongoing development of its inverter technology with an even greater degree of integration for future vehicle architecture.
www.schaeffler.com
