Automotive Engineering - April 2023 - 16

SPONSORED CONTENT
The Inside Story on the Expanding Role
of Semiconductors in Electric Mobility
and Transportation Decarbonization
T
ransportation is evolving, but what would a rise in electric-vehicle adoption mean for the future of automotive
dependability? In an interview with SAE's Automotive Engineering, Lars Ullrich, Sr. Vice President of Automotive
Americas, Infineon Technologies, explores the future of mobility, including the key trends for decarbonization and
digitalization and the role semiconductors will play in helping us achieve the next generation of mobility.
Our concept of the 'future car' is often defined
by electromobility and autonomy. What role
do semiconductors play in enabling each of
those features?
Semiconductors are essential for driving the automotive
megatrends. They provide the basis for
smart traffic concepts and safe vehicles along
with electrification, connectivity, autonomous
driving and advanced security. Power semiconductors
and control ICs enable all types of electric
vehicle (EV) applications, from the traction
inverter to the battery management systems.
Autonomous vehicles may seem far in the fudistribution
to energy-efficient consumption in
passenger vehicles and other transportation
modes such as e-bikes, e-scooters, etc.
Lars Ullrich,
Sr. Vice President of
Automotive Americas,
Infineon Technologies
ture, but advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) based
on SAE Levels 1 and 2 are more mainstream, thanks largely
to innovative semiconductors. ADAS solutions rely on fast
information processing and a failsafe electronic control unit
(ECU). Radar technology also is needed to collect and feed
information into the systems. Without semiconductors, autonomous
vehicles would not be possible.
With the increase in demand for cleaner vehicles, what
role do semiconductors play in the decarbonization trend?
Zero-emission electromobility is a central pillar in contributing
to decarbonization. At the core of all EV technologies
is the electrified powertrain. Whether battery-electric
or fuel-cell hydrogen, the drivetrains in zero-emission vehicles
rely on power semiconductors to convert, manage
and use energy efficiently. Semiconductors and power
control ICs are accelerating the mass-market deployment
of electric vehicles by enabling multi-target optimization
for system cost reduction, increased power density, higher
application efficiency and modular systems.
One of the most important systems of an EV is the traction
inverter. It controls the electric motor and is a key
component because it determines the driving behavior,
similar to the engine-management system in combustion
vehicles. In the traction inverter, semiconductors transform
the direct current from the battery into the alternating current
that drives the motor. Less energy is lost this way,
providing a longer driving range.
The charging infrastructure also has a huge impact on
the advancement of decarbonization. At Infineon, our
board portfolio addresses not just the vehicle, but the entire
energy chain - from power generation, storage and
16 April 2023
What role do semiconductors play in enabling
automotive dependability?
In my opinion, the vehicles of the future will be
electric and autonomous. To realize that, you
need both the technology and the trust of the
vehicle occupants. Gaining the trust of future
occupants starts with dependable electronics
that enable available, dependable, safe and secure
systems that operate in all conditions.
For example, assisted and automated driving requires
more safety and dependability. On the way to autonomous
driving, we need highly dependable systems with partial
functional redundancy. This is already required for modern
and advanced ADAS that have been introduced in vehicle
platforms at all levels. This also entails the need to upgrade
these systems in a quick and easy manner, e.g. Software
Over The Air (SOTA). The growing number of vehicle models
launched annually means this cannot be done only at a
garage or auto dealer, but should also be possible, for example,
with SOTA updates while the vehicle is in operation.
All of these advanced functionalities need to be implemented
at a reasonable cost and the increased functionalities
should not significantly affect the range of electric vehicles.
As vehicles continue to evolve and become more connected,
how do you address the security of EVs?
Automotive security is an important topic; you can't just
buy one component and consider it done. You need a
comprehensive cybersecurity plan that includes the right
combination of hardware and software- think of it as a
handshake between the two. At Infineon, our board portfolio
and technical expertise enable the right combination
of security to ensure that a handshake. We are one of the
first semiconductor companies to be certified under ISO/
SAE 21434, the new international standard for automotive
cybersecurity management systems. This makes it possible
for Infineon to support customers in complying with national
and international cybersecurity regulations.
To learn more about Infineon Technologies automotive solutions,
visit www.infineon.com/mobility
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Automotive Engineering - April 2023

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