With the increasing market for electrified vehicles (EVs), the demand for on-board chargers (OBCs) is growing fast. OBCs open up the possibility to charge the car not only at fast-charging DC stations but also with AC sources in a reasonable time. Such systems are currently going up to 22 kW with operating voltages up to 800 V. The function of the OBC is to convert the AC voltage from an external source to a specific DC voltage that is based on the requirements of the battery management system. By this, a battery-saving and fast charging process can be reached. Especially in remote areas without sufficient fast DC charging infrastructure, OBCs are essential to make EVs more attractive.
Due to the complexity of such systems, the OBC needs a certain bulk capacitance to stabilize the DC voltage that is charging the battery. Aluminum electrolytic capacitors are an attractive solution here since they can fulfill the key requirements, such as high voltage ratings of up to 500 V, large capacitance of up to 820 µF and high ripple current capabilities at an operating temperature range of -40 °C to 105 °C.

High energy, reliable and volumetric efficient inverters are essential to reducing emissions of vehicles based on 48 V technology. DC-link capacitors can significantly contribute to this target by reducing parasitic losses and increasing thermal efficiency. High inverter powers can be theoretically achieved with multiple capacitor connections. However, a high number of parallel-connected parts also increase the complexity of the system stability. In the field of Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors, the Hybrid Polymer technology offers higher ripple current densities by a factor of, e.g., 5x compared to standard Liquid Electrolyte technology. By applying the Hybrid Polymer technology to the large axial capacitor can sizes, with solid mechanical construction and special thermal dissipation feature, a compact DC-link solution with a reduced amount of capacitor and minimized thermal escalation risk through stable and efficient thermal design can be achieved.

The evolution of sensing technology and communication network contribute to the realization of an Autonomous driving society and its growth. Ultrasonic parking assistant is a key sensor for automated driving and parking functions. Ultrasonic parking sensors were in use in Europe long before debate on automated driving became active. TDK has for many years supplied Piezo Disks and ultrasonic driver transformers for use with ultrasonic parking sensors. TDK also developed a multilayer ceramic chip capacitor that exhibits attenuating capacitance (ZL characteristics) under high-temperature environments that is suitable for resonant circuits with Piezo Disk. This article presents Piezo Disk, ultrasonic driver transformers, and MLCC with ZL characteristics.

As the electrification of the automotive progresses, the demand for motor generators is on the rise. There is also a trend towards integration of electric motors and inverters, and the requirements with regard to compact dimensions and resistance against heat and vibrations are becoming ever more severe, while high reliability is also an important factor. In some cases, wiring inductance can lead to high surge voltages which requires countermeasures such as suitable wiring design and snubber capacitors. At the same time, noise countermeasures are also essential.

The car of tomorrow is unthinkable without innovative electronics. Correspondingly, there is a vast range of new TDK and EPCOS components, both for conventional vehicle technology and for e-mobility.