Ideal Power Inc., pioneering the development and commercialization of the highly efficient and broadly patented B-TRAN™ bidirectional semiconductor power switch, announces that the Company received orders from a global Tier 1 automotive supplier, a NYSE listed company. This global customer serves many automotive OEMs and is a leading supplier of sensors and electrical protection component solutions for automobile electrification and electric vehicles (EVs). They represent the latest addition to the Company's customer list of Tier 1 suppliers targeting the EV market.
The Company is meeting regularly with this Tier 1 auto supplier and educating them on the benefits of B-TRAN™ in EV applications. As a result of these ongoing discussions, the customer placed orders for numerous discrete B-TRAN™ devices, a SymCool® power module, a solid-state circuit breaker evaluation board and a driver. This customer is interested in using B-TRAN™ for solid-state EV contactor applications.
"We are pleased to see another global Tier 1 automotive supplier securing B-TRAN™ products as part of their desire to bring lower cost, more efficient semiconductor solutions to their numerous automotive OEM customers. We are also working to advance other Tier 1 auto suppliers in our sales pipeline to orders and then to custom development agreements and/or design wins," stated Dan Brdar, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ideal Power. "Overall, we are leveraging our success with Stellantis to attract and engage other auto OEMs as well as the Tier 1 auto suppliers that provide sub-systems to these global automakers."
Contactors serve as cutoff switches for high voltage applications in EVs. They play a critical role in isolating the battery, inverter, and onboard charger to ensure safety when the vehicle is off or being serviced. In a collision, power must be shut off from downstream systems to prevent further complications or damage. Contactors are bidirectional and there are typically 4 to 6 high-power contactors in every EV. The high-power EV contactor market is forecasted to grow to over $3.7 billion in 2025 and the Company believes that, over time, solid-state contactors will potentially displace electromechanical contactors in half or more of this market.
Solid-state contactors provide several benefits over electromechanical contactors. They act much faster, thereby eliminating arcing and improving safety, and are more reliable as they do not include physical contacts subject to wear. In addition, they provide programmable settings for trip and current limits as well as built-in safety diagnostics. Solid-state contactors are also expected to cost less than electromechanical contactors in EV applications.
