Japan companies eye mass production of gallium nitride parts for EVs

Sumitomo Chemical and others work to enlarge substrates for power semiconductors

20241017N GaN power semiconductors

A wafer for GaN power semiconductor devices. The devices have very low power loss and could drastically speed up EV charging. (Photo obtained by Nikkei)

EMI OKADA, TAKAKO FUJIU and RYO MUKANO, Nikkei staff writers

TOKYO -- Japanese companies are moving to mass-produce gallium nitride (GaN) power semiconductor devices for electric vehicles, which stand to gain increased driving range, but high costs remain a hurdle.

Power semiconductor devices are used to control the flow of electricity in EVs and other products. Those that have less power loss and are more efficient than their conventional silicon counterparts are said to be next-generation. GaN is competing with silicon carbide (SiC) for applications in EV power semiconductor devices.

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