-
IAV and Nexperia have unveiled the ONE Inverter concept, a joint initiative that combines advanced wide-bandgap semiconductor technology with software-defined battery and system architectures to explore a new generation of high-voltage electric vehicle platforms.
The concept is designed to improve the utilization of battery capacity by enabling more intelligent management of battery cells and power distribution. Rather than relying solely on increasing battery size, the ONE Inverter approach focuses on extracting greater value from existing battery resources through dynamic control and allocation of battery sections within a software-defined architecture.
Under the collaboration, IAV contributed its expertise in software-defined systems, battery engineering, and vehicle architectures, while Nexperia provided the enabling semiconductor technologies, including its silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) solutions.
A central feature of the ONE Inverter concept is the ability to manage battery cells based on their individual condition and performance. Instead of the overall battery pack being constrained by its weakest cell, each cell can contribute according to its actual capability. This approach is intended to improve battery utilization while enhancing overall system robustness.
The concept is enabled by Nexperia’s advanced wide-bandgap semiconductor technologies, particularly a bidirectional GaN device that supports efficient and fast switching at the battery cell level. According to the companies, this capability makes the architecture both technically and economically viable. Alternative semiconductor approaches would require significantly greater system complexity and cost. Additional components from Nexperia’s semiconductor portfolio, including bipolar devices, also contribute to the overall system design.
The collaboration demonstrates how semiconductor innovation can be integrated into software-defined vehicle architectures. By combining IAV’s capabilities in battery systems, software development, and vehicle engineering with Nexperia’s expertise in semiconductors and packaging technologies, the companies are exploring new pathways to develop more efficient, resilient, and future-ready electric mobility solutions.
Jörg Astalosch, Chief Executive Officer of IAV, said the company’s strength lies in translating technological innovation into system-level solutions. He noted that the collaboration with Nexperia explores how software-defined battery architectures can unlock new levels of efficiency, flexibility, and resilience for future software-defined vehicles.
Edoardo Merli, Senior Vice President and Head of Business Group Wide Bandgap, IGBT & Modules at Nexperia, highlighted the importance of close collaboration in developing next-generation vehicle architectures. He stated that combining Nexperia’s SiC and GaN expertise with IAV’s advanced system concepts enables new approaches to electric mobility design, while early-stage cooperation helps align semiconductor and system requirements to create scalable, high-performance solutions.
The ONE Inverter concept has already been validated through a laboratory demonstrator. The technology was jointly presented by IAV and Nexperia at the Advanced Automotive Battery Conference (AABC) Europe 2026 and PCIM Europe 2026, where it attracted significant interest from industry participants.
Original – Nexperia
