Vitesco signs SiC semiconductor deal with Infineon
Vitesco has signed a cooperation agreement with Infineon for the supply of silicon carbide power semiconductors – according to the company against the background of the strong growth in electromobility. In addition, Vitesco and Infineon plan to collaborate on development.
The cooperation with Infineon opens up “the possibility of additional capacities for the strong growth in electromobility”, according to the supplier, which specialises in drive systems. Financial details or scope of delivery are not mentioned in the announcement, nor is the duration of the agreement.
This is Vitesco’s second partnership in SiC devices: in 2020, Vitesco selected Rohm Semiconductor as its partner for silicon carbide power semiconductors.
The announcement does not specify in which products Vitesco will use the silicon carbide semiconductors. Vitesco says it uses SiC devices in its high-voltage inverters, and the announcement points to the well-known efficiency advantage of silicon carbide over silicon – “especially at a battery voltage of 800 volts”. This should make it clear where the Infineon semiconductors will be installed.
“Range is a key performance characteristic in battery electric driving, higher efficiency power semiconductors such as SiC will therefore be increasingly used in the future,” says Thomas Stierle, head of the Electrification Technology business unit at Vitesco Technologies.
Vitesco CEO Andreas Wolf adds: “Partnering-up with leading semiconductor manufacturers is important for us to master dynamic growth. We have been collaborating with Infineon on silicon for a long time. We are now expanding this with SiC power semiconductors.”
The new partnership with Infineon also includes the targeted further development of SiC devices specifically for Vitesco’s e-mobility applications. “Jointly refining chips specifically for our applications, in the area of electromobility, will lead to highly attractive solutions. This is another important step forward into the future of electrification,” Wolf continued.
Stephan Zizala, head of Infineon Technologies’ Automotive High Power business unit, describes his company as a “technological and quality leader” in silicon carbide. “Our second silicon carbide generation enables us to develop even more compact and efficient systems,” Zizala said. “With our decades of experience and continuous expansion of manufacturing capacities, we are well positioned for the accelerated growth of the SiC market.”
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