ON Semi and Geely Automobile Group are expanding their technological cooperation to improve electric vehicle performance. The two companies plan to jointly advance the design of high-voltage electric vehicles by integrating silicon carbide (SiC)-based power semiconductor technology across vehicle platforms.

On April 30, ON Semi announced an expanded strategic cooperation with Geely Automobile for the development of next-generation electric and hybrid vehicles. This collaboration focuses on incorporating power semiconductors into vehicle designs at the system level, rather than at the level of individual components.

Geely Motor plans to introduce the SEP system, which applies ON Semi's EliteSiC power technology to its SEA-S platform-based electric drive system. Based on a high-voltage structure, the system is designed to increase power transfer efficiency and improve acceleration performance, driving range, and charging time.

Silicon carbide-based power semiconductors are characterized by providing higher power density and efficiency compared to conventional silicon. This enables the in-vehicle power system to be miniaturized and lightweight while maintaining output performance, and allows for stable operation in various driving environments through improved thermal management.

In particular, the 900V architecture, which both companies are focusing on, is a structure that reduces losses and heat generation during the power transmission process. Increasing the voltage allows for the efficient transmission of the same amount of power, contributing to faster charging speeds and increased driving range. At the same time, it also affects the stability and durability of the vehicle system.

Through this collaboration, both companies plan to strengthen their development approach of incorporating semiconductor technology from the early stages of vehicle design. This is interpreted as an approach designed to simultaneously consider performance, efficiency, and scalability amidst the trend of increasingly complex electric vehicle platforms.