Japanese power component supplier Rohm has teamed up with Chinese electric power train company Leadrive Technology to build a joint silicon carbide power laboratory in the Shanghai free trade zone.

Rohm-Leadrive-deal

The two companies have been collaborating since 2017, when Leadrive was established.

“Establishing a joint research lab centred on vehicle power modules and inverters utilising Rohm’s SiC mosfet bare chips and isolated gate drivers will give both companies the opportunity to accelerate the development of power solutions,” according to Rohm. .

“The adoption of power modules that integrate SiC chips for new energy vehicles will become an industry trend over the next couple of years,” said Leadrive general manager Dr Jie Shen. “Commercialising SiC-equipped devices by collecting resources from around the world and carrying out R&D gives us a competitive edge as an automotive Tier 1 manufacturer.”

Photo: Dr Jie Shen, chairman and general manager of Leadrive (right) shaking hands with Shinya Kubota, MD of Rohm Semiconductor (Shanghai) at the lab opening ceremony.