Efficient Power Conversion has introduced the EPC9186HC2 and EPC9186HC3 evaluation boards, expanding its portfolio of GaN-based motor drive platforms for high-power applications up to 5 kW.
The new boards are designed as three-phase BLDC inverter platforms and target a wide range of applications including robotics, industrial automation, light electric vehicles, agricultural machinery, and high-power drones. Both platforms are built on EPC’s 100 V EPC2361 eGaN FET technology, delivering improved conduction performance and enabling higher current operation compared to previous designs.
The EPC9186HC2 integrates two GaN devices in parallel per switch position, while the EPC9186HC3 uses three in parallel, further reducing effective on-resistance and improving efficiency at higher load conditions. The systems support phase currents up to 150 ARMS and switching frequencies up to 120 kHz, enabling high power density and fast dynamic response.
From a performance standpoint, the use of GaN enables lower gate charge and output capacitance compared to silicon MOSFETs, resulting in faster switching, reduced losses, and smaller passive components. The boards also maintain controlled switching behavior (dv/dt ~6 V/ns), helping reduce torque ripple and acoustic noise—key requirements in precision motor control.
The platforms integrate essential system functions including gate drivers, current sensing, voltage monitoring, and protection features, and support both sensorless and encoder-based control. Compatibility with controller ecosystems from major suppliers such as Microchip, Texas Instruments, and STMicroelectronics allows for rapid system integration.
From a market perspective, these evaluation platforms highlight the continued expansion of GaN into motion control and electrification applications beyond power supplies. As demand grows for compact, efficient motor drives in robotics and e-mobility, GaN is increasingly positioned as a key enabler of higher switching frequencies, improved efficiency, and reduced system size.
This launch reinforces EPC’s strategy of accelerating GaN adoption by providing system-level tools that reduce development time and enable engineers to validate next-generation inverter architectures in real-world applications.
Original – Efficient Power Conversion