
onsemi opens EV lab in Slovakia
onsemi has opened an application test lab in Piestany, Slovakia, developing systems for electric vehicles (xEVs) and energy infrastructure (EI) power conversion systems.
The state-of-the-art EV test lab provides specialized equipment to develop and test next-generation silicon and silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductor devices with automotive OEMs, Tier 1s and EI providers.
The company has SiC development deals with EV Tier One suppliers Vitesco and BorgWarner as well as OEMs VW and Zeekr.
The facility will play a key role in the development of future power systems tailored to customers’ specific requirements. There are two high-voltage power labs that focus on systems and device level development as well as evaluation of SiC/Si traction inverters and AC-DC and DC-DC power converters. Laser welding facilities, mechanical clean rooms and workshops further enable fast prototyping and testing of next-generation systems.
- Vitesco pays onsemi for SiC capacity in $1.9bn ten year deal
- onsemi signs $1bn SiC deal with BorgWarner
- onsemi $450m boost to European SiC wafer production
Evaluation capabilities for the next-generation system solutions include continuous 24/7 testing along with internally developed and patented software and hardware to support high-voltage power cycling via space vector modulation (SVM) and sinusoidal pulse width modulation (SPWM).
The labs also use high accuracy logging devices for assessing SiC and Si health and reliability and can simulate the harsh conditions faced by inverters during operation, testing liquid-cooled devices at temperatures as low as minus 50 degrees C and up to 220 °C
The site also supports programming FPGAs and ARM microcontrollers as well as qualification testing, data analysis and 3D modelling.
onsemi has a SiC wafer manufacturing plant in the Czech Republic and a close relationship with the University of Romania for the recruitment of skilled researchers and staff.
