News: Microelectronics
13 June 2024
hofer powertrain and ETH Zurich initiate GaN multi-level traction inverter development project
Automotive technology company hofer powertrain of Nürtingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany has begun a research project in collaboration with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH Zürich). Supported by funding from INNOSUISSE (the Swiss Agency of Innovation Promotion, which advances science-based innovations in the interest of the economy and society in Switzerland), the core objective of the project is to rapidly develop an advanced multi-level traction inverter integrating gallium nitride (GaN) switches.
hofer powertrain says that over the last four years it has made significant strides in developing multi-level power electronics utilizing GaN chip technology, resulting in enhanced efficiency and power density compared with silicon-based systems. Their latest 800V GaN inverters have showcased remarkable performance in tests, it is claimed. The collaborative project with ETH Zürich builds on that experience to realize an inverter that aims to leverage a novel modulation scheme, operate at very high switching frequencies, and incorporate a wide array of additional pioneering features that the firm has been working on in recent years.
The Innosuisse funding underscores the project's potential impact in the country and the DACH (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) region. The financial support will facilitate the design of a new, optimized and highly efficient three-level GaN power inverter, featuring adaptive gate drivers to improve switching controllability and further reduce energy losses. The outcome is expected to significantly enhance the performance and efficiency of powertrain systems for electric vehicles.
ETH Zürich has appointed a PhD candidate to lead the research effort. The project will be supervised by power electronics expert professor Johann Biela of ETH Zürich and Dr Lukasz Roslaniec, the division lead of power electronics at hofer powertrain, who has extensive industry experience and has been working on these technologies proactively.
ETH Zürich is “renowned for its groundbreaking work in Power Electronics and Electric Drives,” notes Roslaniec. “Our partnership will yield solutions that are not only technologically advanced and unparalleled but also financially accessible, thereby pushing the adoption of electric vehicles and environmental sustainability in the region and beyond.”
VisIC’s D3GaN chip technology used in hofer’s new 3Level traction inverter
