Power Semiconductor Maker E-tronic Secures Series A+ Financing

E-tronic, a provider of power semiconductors and system solutions for electric vehicles, has recently announced the completion of its series A+ financing round raising tens of millions of yuan. The funding was exclusively led by Sinovation Ventures, and the funds will be used for the construction of advanced packaging lines.

As the electric vehicle (EV) market continues to rapidly grow, the demand for power semiconductor components used in EVs has increased significantly. The motor drive systems used in EVs typically require components that are smaller in size, lighter in weight, and capable of withstanding harsh working conditions. As a result, silicon carbide (SiC) materials, which offer high thermal conductivity, high-temperature resistance, and radiation resistance, have become increasingly popular in the field of semiconductor components for EVs.

While SiC materials offer many advantages for use in power semiconductor components for EVs, there are still challenges in manufacturing and packaging technology, dynamic and static testing, and drive design optimization that need to be addressed before these advantages can be fully realized. Chinese manufacturers have the potential to make breakthroughs in these key technologies, as well as reduce costs, improve efficiency, and promote commercialization of SiC-based components for EVs.

E-tronic focuses on developing third-generation SiC power modules for EVs. Currently, the company has designed a SiC motor controller that offers high power density, high efficiency, high reliability, and high working temperature.

Xiong Hao, a partner at Sinovation Ventures and the exclusive investor in E-tronic’s latest financing round, believes that 800V charging is an inevitable trend in the development of EVs to alleviate concerns about driving range. He sees the power modules and systems with third-generation SiC technology that E-tronic is focusing on as the core components for enabling 800V charging.

Ren Guanghui, the founder of E-tronic, has 15 years of experience in automotive electronics. Over 80% of the company’s team members hold doctoral or master’s degrees, and its core members have significant industry experience with renowned companies including Bosch, STMicroelectronics, and CRRC. They also have over ten years of experience in product design and development, both domestically and internationally.

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E-tronic is an official partner of global semiconductor giant STMicroelectronics in China, and the two companies are collaborating to build a laboratory for smart car electronics. E-tronic is also establishing a joint laboratory for automotive electronics with ETAS, a global automotive electronic software supplier. Based on confirmed orders, E-tronic is projected to generate over 600 million yuan ($87 million) in revenue over the next three years.