Schaeffler has started volume production of its high-voltage inverter brick at its Tianjin site in China, supplying a leading domestic carmaker as part of its push to expand in electric vehicle technology.
The inverter brick, a core power electronics subassembly, converts logic signals into high-frequency current pulses that drive an EV’s motor. Schaeffler said the unit supports battery voltages above the typical 800-volt range and can deliver root mean square (RMS) currents of up to 650 amperes.
“Through our strategic approach of incorporating scalability and modularity into our e-mobility solutions – from individual components to a highly integrated electric axle – we developed the readily integrated inverter brick,” said Thomas Stierle, CEO of Schaeffler’s E-Mobility Division. “Based on our generic platform development, it took us just one year to bring this optimal product for the popular X-in-1 architectures in China to volume production readiness.”
The sub-module, developed with Japanese semiconductor maker ROHM, uses silicon carbide (SiC) chips to improve efficiency and power density. It integrates a power module for pulse width modulation, a DC link capacitor, a cooler and a DC boost function, enabling 800-volt vehicles to charge at 400-volt stations.
“We are glad about the launch of volume production for Schaeffler’s inverter brick with our 4th generation SiC power components,” said Dr. Kazuhide Ino, Member of the Board and Managing Executive Officer at ROHM. “With our SiC technology we are making a substantial contribution to increasing the efficiency and performance of electric cars.”
Schaeffler said the project builds on its strategic partnership with ROHM, established in 2020, which secures access to SiC semiconductors. The German supplier is continuing to expand its inverter technology portfolio, following an overmolded inverter introduced in 2023, and plans further integration for future vehicle architectures.