Texas-headquartered power conversion technology company Ideal Power, developer of the B-TRAN bidirectional semiconductor power switch, is collaborating with its third automaker worldwide on the use of B-TRAN-enabled contacts to replace the contacts of -electromechanical in the automaker's EVs.
Contacts play an important role in isolating the battery, inverter and internal charger to ensure safety when the EV is shut down or serviced, acting as high voltage disconnect switches. B-TRAN powered solid state contacts have no contacts subject to wear and act faster than electromechanical ones. They eliminate arcing, improve safety and reliability, and provide safety diagnostics and programmable settings for trip and current limits. They are also expected to be less expensive for EV systems.
“Solid-state contacts in EVs are an emerging market and our technology can enable this application due to its low performance loss and inherent bidirectionality,” said Dan Brdar, President and CEO of Ideal Power.
Source: Right Power