GKN launches next-gen inverter compatible with 800V EV technology

Drive systems company GKN Automotive has launched its next-generation inverter. GKN says it offers “OEMs the most advanced 800V electric vehicle technology available.”

The upgraded product features a range of efficiency and lightweighting improvements to deliver market-leading performance and enhanced sustainability. The next-gen inverter, one of three modular elements of GKN Automotive’s leading eDrive platform, offers a 20 per cent power output increase over the previous version. In addition, power density is up by 50 per cent, power-to-weight ratio rises by 60 per cent, and copper content is reduced by 63 per cent.

A key development is the integration of 800V technology, which will mean faster charging times, increased battery size, and improved performance for future electric vehicles. By 2025, GKN Automotive forecasts the majority of electric vehicles on the market will utilise the technology. To offer OEMs complete flexibility on existing vehicles, the next-gen inverter is also compatible with existing 400V systems.

Christoph Gillen, Director of Systems Engineering, GKN Automotive, said: “The performance we have been able to deliver with the new inverter is an important next step in our mission to drive a cleaner, more sustainable world, as we’ve been able to vastly increase performance and improve efficiency. We believe that the future of EV technology is 800V architectures, so it was crucial that this product supported an 800V range and I’m proud of what we’ve achieved.”

GKN Automotive says that this latest product “is a result of an ongoing mission to push the boundaries of development and drive a cleaner, more sustainable world.” Support for this approach is provided by GKN Automotive’s Formula E partnership with Jaguar TCS Racing, which demonstrates how performance on track can inform the engineering of systems on the road, through accelerated development and testing in extreme, demanding scenarios.