Month: May 2025

Netherlands-based semiconductor company Nexperia has received automotive certification for its range of silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFETs suitable for applications like onboard chargers (OBC) and traction inverters, as well as DC-DC converters, heating ventilation and air-conditioning systems (HVAC).

These devices (NSF030120D7A0-Q, NSF040120D7A1-Q, NSF060120D7A0-Q), which deliver RDS(on) values of 30, 40 and 60 mΩ and leading figures-of-merit (FoM), were previously offered in industrial grade and have now been awarded AEC-Q101 certification.

The switches are housed in the increasingly popular surface-mounted D2PAK-7 package which is more suitable for automated assembly operations than through-hole devices.

RDS(on) is a critical performance parameter for SiC MOSFETs as it affects conduction losses. However, concentrating on the nominal value neglects the fact that it can increase by more than 100% as device operating temperatures rise, resulting in a considerable rise of conduction losses. Temperature stability is even more critical when SMD package technologies are used rather than through-hole technology since devices are cooled through the PCB.

Nexperia has ensured that its new SiC MOSFETs offer temperature stability, so that the nominal value of RDS(on) increases by only 38% over an operating temperature range from 25° C to 175° C. This enables customers to address higher output power in their applications achieved with a higher nominal 25° C rated RDS(on) from Nexperia without sacrificing performance.

“This feature allows to get more power out of the selected Nexperia SiC MOSFET devices compared to similarly rated RDS(on) devices from other vendors, delivering a clear cost advantage for customers on semiconductor level. Additionally, relaxed cooling requirements, more compact passive components, and higher achievable efficiency allow customers more degrees of freedom in their design and lower total cost of ownership,” said Edoardo Merli, SVP and Head of Business Group Wide Bandgap, IGBT & Modules (WIM) at Nexperia.

Nexperia plans to release automotive-qualified versions of its 17 mΩ and 80 mΩ RDS(on) SiC MOSFETs this year.

Source: Nexperia

South Korean battery and trading company SK On, part of South Korea’s second-largest conglomerate SK Group, has been selected as the battery supplier for US-based electric vehicle startup Slate, highlighting its expanding presence in the US market.

SK On will supply Slate with around 20 GWh of US-manufactured batteries starting in 2026 through 2031, and the startup may take additional volumes as its production increases.

The Slate Truck will be powered by SK On’s nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) battery. Its high nickel content provides high energy density, safety and performance, supporting Slate’s goal of offering an affordable EV while maintaining reliability.

The partnership reflects SK On’s efforts to expand its presence in North America to meet the growing needs for flexible, scalable battery supply in the US. It also signifies a strategic move into more affordable EV market segments, as SK On has thus far primarily served premium EV models.

“Slate is a truck platform so customizable that it can transform from a 2-seat pickup to a 5-seat SUV,” said Slate CEO Chris Barman. “SK On’s innovative approach and partnership has allowed us to meet our target of delivering a radically affordable vehicle.”

Source: SK On

Urban EV charging was once thought to be an intractable problem (the Plight of the Drivewayless), but the solution (as demonstrated in Oslo, Amsterdam and London) turns out to be fairly straightforward: lots and lots of curbside Level 2 chargers.

That’s not to minimize the magnitude of the projects ahead—companies must work with municipalities to design pilots and develop strategies adapted to local needs. One of these innovative companies is Voltpost, which has developed an EV charger that fits into existing lampposts.

Now Voltpost has announced the first public deployment of its lamppost EV charging platform, in Oak Park, Illinois. The company partnered with the Park District of Oak Park and ComEd, the region’s utility company, to complete the deployment.

Voltpost retrofits existing lampposts with a modular EV charging platform that provides curbside and parking lot charging for public and private customers, including government, real estate developers, universities, parking lot operators and more.

“The deployment of a Voltpost charger in Oak Park will expand EV charging access for the local community and help catalyze the transition to sustainable transportation,” said Voltpost CEO and co-founder Jeffrey Prosserman. “This deployment builds upon our ongoing projects in New York and Michigan, and marks a step forward in our mission to scale the Voltpost platform nationwide.”

“Ensuring the residents of Oak Park benefit from affordable access to EV charging infrastructure is vital to serving the needs of our community,” said Kassie Porreca, President of the Park District Board of Commissioners. “We are happy to collaborate with Voltpost and ComEd to provide convenient curbside charging infrastructure that will improve village life.”

Source: Voltpost

KPIT Technologies has purchased Caresoft Global’s engineering solutions business.

The addition of the former Caresoft Global unit will strengthen KPIT’s commercial vehicle vertical “by combining Caresoft’s deep relationships and domain knowledge in trucks and off-highway segments,” KPIT said.

KPIT said that the acquisition will “ramp up value creation through full vehicle cost reduction solutions for passenger cars, trucks and off-highway segments.” It also said that the deal will bring in new capabilities in areas such as manufacturing and industrial engineering, plant layout planning and assembly line optimization for the mobility ecosystem.

“At KPIT, we are deepening relationships with trucks and off-highway makers and accelerating our foray into China,” said Kishir Pattill, the CEO and co-founder of KPIT.

“OEMs need to look at vehicle software, hardware design and manufacturing in an integrated manner to drive speed and innovation while substantially reducing costs,” KPIT said, adding that “a strategic partnership that can bring this integrated view did not exist until now.”

Meanwhile, Caresoft Global announced plans to reorganize its operations—now minus its engineering solutions business—into three business units: Benchmarking, Technology Optimization & Cost Reduction Engineering; Engineering Talent Solutions; and Engineering Solutions. 

Source: KPIT Technologies

US-based E-Van, the composite body division of Embassy Specialty Vehicles, has introduced its new insulated liner for use in a range of electric vehicle applications.

The insulated liner delivers thermal resistance in a slim design, making it well-suited to EVs from delivery vans and work trucks to RVs and buses.

Using a rigid vacuum insulation panel with a microporous core, encased in a thin, gas-tight envelope, the insulated liner delivers high thermal resistance, keeping cargo temperatures stable, extending EV range by reducing HVAC load, and enhancing passenger comfort.

The liner’s ultra-thin design maximizes interior cargo space, so that space-constrained EV designs can benefit from the 2.5-incgh thickness of the insulated walls. It can be integrated into various wall, roof and floor systems, adapting to specific vehicle designs.

“The E-Van insulated liner complements the core E-Van body enhancing thermal resistance that will aid in improving the efficiency and range of commercial EVs. Lighter weight and an R-60 insulation rating reduces the energy requirements of heating and cooling commercial EVs, thus increasing potential range, and enabling the development of refrigerated commercial EVs,” said Mike Schoeffler, CEO of Embassy Specialty Vehicles.

Source: Embassy Specialty Vehicles

The US auto industry is in serious trouble, and while the current federal administration is setting the tone, most of the damage is self-inflicted. GM, which has been saying for the last few years that it was sort of interested in possibly trying to explore the possibility of aspiring to phase out legacy gas vehicles fifteen years or so in the future (maybe), has slammed on the brakes on its EV production, redirecting previously announced EV investment to producing V8 engines.

In 2023, GM said it would invest $300 million to equip its plant in Tonawanda, New York, to build EV drive units. Now the company has scrapped those plans, and will instead throw $888 million at building a sixth generation of V8 engines at the Tonawanda plant—the largest single investment the company has ever made in an engine plant.

Is the pullback in response to slowing EV sales (as most of the news media is reporting)? Well…not really. In the second half of 2024, GM surpassed Ford and Hyundai to become the number-two seller of EVs in the US. It’s been building on that momentum this year—GM’s EV sales nearly doubled in the first quarter of 2025. In April, GM brands accounted for 14.4% of US EV sales, up 2% from the previous period. Cadillac, which now offers several luxury electric SUV models, is doing particularly well. According to Brad Granz, Cadillac’s Global Marketing Director, its new EVs are attracting buyers from other brands, particularly Tesla.

In April, almost 100,500 new EVs were sold in the US. While this represents a decline of 5.9% from March, EV market share rose to 6.9%, according to Cox Automotive.

Meanwhile, GM is pushing hard to make sure the US Senate votes to revoke California’s emissions waiver from the EPA, which allows the state to set its own higher emissions standards. Among other actions, the company sent an email to employees encouraging them to contact politicians and urge them to vote to revoke the waiver.

This is nothing new—automakers, along with their trade groups and dealers, have a long history of lobbying against pro-EV measures at all levels of government. To justify these self-defeating actions, they often invoke “consumer choice.” And indeed, car buyers do have choices. As GM and Ford pull back from the EV market, Hyundai is expanding EV production at its Metaplant in Georgia. Hyundai and Kia have shown little interest in chanting the “EVs aren’t selling” mantra we’ve been hearing from GM, Ford, Toyota et al. Will that refrain become a self-fulfilling prophecy? Who would want to buy their EV from an automaker that constantly complains that no one wants to buy its EVs?

Sources: LinkedIn News, GM, Wall Street Journal, Electrek, Cox Automotive