Automotive supplier BorgWarner and semiconductor company Onsemi announced on July 18 the expansion of their strategic partnership. BorgWarner will integrate Onsemi's silicon carbide (SiC) devices into its power modules to increase the performance of EVs.
BorgWarner said its SiC traction inverters offer higher efficiency, better cooling and faster charging rates in a more compact package than other options for EVs. It plans to integrate Onsemi EliteSiC 1200V and 750V power devices into its VIPER power modules for traction inverters.
According to a joint statement, the traction inverters will benefit from increased power density and higher efficiency, enhancing the driving range and general performance of EVs.
The expansion of BorgWarner and Onsemi's strategic collaboration will make the pair's total agreement worth more than US$1 billion in lifetime value.
Stefan Demmerle, BorgWarner's vice president, said Onsemi's ongoing strategic investment in SiC manufacturing capacity will help BorgWarner support the increasing demand for its solutions.
The US-based automotive supplier broke ground on a new plant in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, earlier this month. The facility, expected to be open by the second quarter of 2024, will manufacture power electronic components and electric motors, according to BorgWarner.
The company said the plant will be its first facility in the area that integrates a clean room and a product validation testing laboratory focusing on inverters. The new facility is expected to become BorgWarner's electromobility manufacturing hub.
BorgWarner has operated in Mexico for over eight years. It already runs a factory in San Luis Potosi dedicated to assembling of integrated electric drive units (iDM) for light electric vehicles and eMotor components.
