Growing GaN Adoption in the Automotive Industry
On December 10, ROHM Semiconductor announced a strategic partnership with TSMC to co-develop and mass-produce automotive-grade GaN (Gallium Nitride) power devices. This collaboration aims to combine ROHM’s expertise in GaN device development with TSMC’s advanced GaN-on-Silicon technology to meet the growing market demand for high-voltage, high-frequency power components with exceptional performance.
On December 10, ROHM Semiconductor announced a strategic partnership with TSMC to co-develop and mass-produce automotive-grade GaN (Gallium Nitride) power devices. This collaboration aims to combine ROHM’s expertise in GaN device development with TSMC’s advanced GaN-on-Silicon technology to meet the growing market demand for high-voltage, high-frequency power components with exceptional performance.
EcoGaN™ Series and Emerging Applications
In 2023, ROHM leveraged TSMC's 650V GaN HEMT process to launch new products in its EcoGaN™ series, which are already deployed in various consumer electronics and industrial applications. Notably, these products power Delta Electronics’ Innergie C4 Duo, a 45W AC adapter.
TSMC sees significant environmental benefits in utilizing GaN power devices for automotive applications such as onboard chargers (OBCs) and inverters in electric vehicles (EVs). To strengthen its GaN capabilities, TSMC is investing heavily in technology development.
Growing GaN Adoption in the Automotive Industry
The automotive sector is rapidly adopting GaN technology due to its efficiency and performance benefits. For example:
- Toyota and BMW are exploring GaN applications for OBCs and DC-DC converters in EVs.
- GaN devices in automotive systems can achieve up to 98% charging efficiency, reduce energy consumption by 70%, and improve driving range by approximately 5%.
Additionally, VisIC Technologies recently partnered with AVL, a leader in automotive development and simulation, to develop high-efficiency GaN inverters for EVs, highlighting the growing industry focus on GaN-powered automotive solutions.
Market Outlook and Projections
According to TrendForce, GaN technology is expected to begin penetrating low-power OBCs and DC-DC converters by 2025. By 2030, GaN adoption may expand to traction inverters, potentially transforming EV efficiency and performance.
The partnership between ROHM and TSMC further reinforces the industry’s move toward adopting GaN devices as a critical technology for the future of EVs and renewable energy applications.
