Autos are going, going, GaN

Efficient Power Conversion Corp. (EPC) showed examples of its eGaN FETs used in several automotive applications, including the 6-kW, 48 to 12-V bidirectional dc-dc converter visible here, which contains 16 EPC2208 eGaN FETs. EPC CEO Alex Lidow — here holding a display of the firm’s monolithic GaN power stages — says that there is no such thing as a reference design in the automotive area; suppliers design their own systems. Instead, the automotive topologies on display are merely starting points for discussions with automotive OEMs. Lidow also thinks 48-V power circuits will contain no silicon parts within three years. He also predicts EPC will sell no discrete components three years from now, only ICs containing both power devices and integrated drivers.

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