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THE TECH
VW and Swedish battery maker Northvolt will lead a
new consortium called the European Battery Union
(EBU), which aims to push battery research forward in
Europe.
Through the EBU, the partners plan to research the
entire battery value stream, from raw materials through
cell technology to recycling. The group’s prime objec-
tive is to accumulate broader know-how on battery cell
production.
Research activities will also focus on the development
and engineering of plant technologies that allow sus-
tainable, climate-friendly and competitive battery cell
production in the EU.
VW says all consortium partners will step up invest-
ments for the planned research, and funding could also
include support from the German Federal Ministry for
Economic Affairs and Energy.
Partners will share all results of the consortium’s re-
search work, which should start at the beginning of 2020.Semiconductor
provider Transphorm
has announced that
its third-generation
high-voltage galli-
um nitride (GaN)
field-effect transistor
(FET) has passed
AEC-Q101 stress tests for automotive-grade discrete
semiconductors. The transistor targets EV applications
including on-board chargers, DC-DC converters, and
DC-AC inverter systems.
Transphorm’s new FET, the TP65H035WSQA, per-
formed at 175° C during AEC-Q101 qualification testing,
which the company says will give design engineers ample
thermal headroom when developing power systems.
In addition to AEC-Q101 qualification, the FET is also
JEDEC-certified.
“Proving device quality and reliability is perhaps the
most critical factor influencing customer confidence in
high-voltage GaN FETs – particularly in the automotive
and electric vehicle markets,” said Transphorm’s Philip
Zuk. “To that end, we ensure that our GaN maintains its
performance and reliability even in real-world condi-
tions that may be far harsher than what mission profiles
call for. As shown by the published reliability data, our
JEDEC-qualified Gen III platform has a Field Failure
FIT rate of 3, which is in line with that of silicon carbide.
It’s this high reliability level that allowed Transphorm to
release a Gen III automotive FET at 175° C.”VW and Northvolt form
European Battery Union to
advance EU battery research
Transphorm’s latest GaN
transistor passes automotive
qualification
Image courtesy of NorthvoltImage courtesy of Transphorm