The path to sustainable mobility

There is no alternative to reducing global warming and carbon emissions. The political sphere is driving this change in the automotive industry with regulations on both the national and international level. Meanwhile, changing consumer preferences drive the demand for electric cars. To date, 66 countries have announced a zero-emission vehicle target or the phase-out of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles by 2050 to meet the 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement targets.

Electromobility is the foundation for environmentally responsible and sustainable mobility. However, making electromobility successful requires not only an electrified car, but also the supporting ecosystem and charging infrastructure based on renewable energy, as well as carbon-neutral car manufacturing. Semiconductors are at the heart of vehicle electrification and the associated charging infrastructure and will drive the transformation towards carbon-neutral mobility in order to protect our planet, for our own sake and for the sake of generations to come.

As the world’s leading supplier of automotive semiconductors, Infineon offers full system solutions, high quality and strong supply capability. With its extensive range of power semiconductors and control ICs for all types of electric vehicle, Infineon is accelerating xEV mass market deployment and helping the automotive industry meet its ambitious CO2 fleet targets.

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GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title with Infineon’s dependable electronics onboard of the VW ID.4

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Electromobility is fast becoming a reality. In fact, every seventh car produced today is operating on a form of electrification. Demonstrating the power and convenience of an electric vehicle (EV), Volkswagen of America has teamed up with long-distance driving expert Rainer Zietlow for the VW ID.4 USA tour. Under the sponsorship of Infineon, Zietlow and his team have attained a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title. The record was set for the longest journey by an electric vehicle in a single country, crossing 35,840.67 miles between July 13, 2021 to October 18, 2021. The drive route also incorporated five Infineon sites, including Livonia, MI; San Jose, CA; El Segundo, CA; Austin, TX; and Washington D.C. 

The VW ID.4 contains more than 50 Infineon semiconductors, including power semiconductors, microcontrollers and driver ICs. At the heart of the electric drivetrain is a power module from the HybridPACK™ Drive product family for the conversion of energy between the battery and motor. Looking beyond the car, semiconductors from Infineon also play an important role in the electric charging infrastructure and enable faster charging.

Learn more about dependable electronics

Types of electric vehicles

Electrification under full control with main inverters

Every electric motor needs to be controlled by a main inverter, also known as a traction inverter. The inverter converts DC to the AC needed to power the engine and is also able to change the speed at which the motor rotates by adjusting the AC frequency.

Infineon offers comprehensive and cost-effective automotive-qualified silicon and silicon-carbide (SiC) semiconductors. Our solutions support a broad range of motors, generators and power classes that increase inverter energy efficiency by minimizing power losses.

This scalable, highly reliable portfolio includes everything from IGBTs, MOSFETs and diodes, through IGBT and MOSFET gate drivers, to AURIX™ automotive microcontrollers.

Further technical information can be found on our application page:

(H)EV Traction Inverter

Battery Management Systems – the driving force behind

From smartphones, tablets and power tools to electric vehicles – batteries power our modern world.

For example, the battery pack within an electric vehicle is an assembly of individual lithium-ion cells connected in series and in parallel. Because the cell chemistry is very sensitive to the exact discharge/charge current, voltage profile and temperature profile, every battery requires precise monitoring and control capabilities.

This is exactly where the battery management system (BMS) comes in. As it monitors and balances each cell, it can use the parameters gained to calculate the exact energy consumption and predict how much energy is left for the application.

To learn more about what Infineon’s BMS is capable of, visit the applications page:

Battery Management System (BMS)

Fill up with high-speed on-board charging

High-voltage batteries in a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) or battery-powered electric vehicle (EV) are recharged using the on-board charger (OBC). The power comes directly from the grid while the car is parked and connected to a charging station. In most cases, the power flow from the grid to the battery is unidirectional. However, there are cases where bidirectionality is required (battery to load or battery to grid).

The essential use case for OBCs is main harbour charging at home or at the office. In most cases, EVs are charged slowly overnight at the driver’s home using a power socket in the garage, making it possible to extend battery life and take advantage of off-peak grid prices.

To find out how Infineon enables fast and efficient on-board charging, visit the application page:

On-board battery charger