ROHM Releases Automotive-Grade 650 V IGBTs for EV Compressors and Heaters
The fourth-generation devices target auxiliary systems while silicon carbide dominates traction inverters.
ROHM has released its fourth-generation 650 V IGBTs, automotive-grade switching devices designed for electric compressors and high-voltage heaters in EVs as well as inverters for industrial equipment.
What Happened
The new lineup includes 12 products in the TO-247N package under the RGAxxTS65HR and RGAxxTS65EHR series, plus 10 bare wafer products in the SG83xxWN series. The devices feature a typical collector-emitter saturation voltage of 1.55 V and a short-circuit withstand time of 7 microseconds at 25°C junction temperature. ROHM redesigned the device structure, including process and edge termination, to raise current density while cutting both conduction and switching losses. The parts meet the AEC-Q101 automotive reliability standard. ROHM is also developing a 12-product TO-247-4L series and plans future releases in TO-263L surface-mount packages and top-side cooling configurations.
Why It Matters
Electric compressors and high-voltage heaters are key auxiliary systems in EVs, particularly for cabin climate control. The 650 V IGBTs fill a gap where silicon carbide has not yet displaced silicon—lower-power auxiliary applications remain dominated by traditional IGBTs rather than the SiC increasingly used in traction inverters. Lower saturation voltage means reduced conduction losses and less heat to manage, potentially improving efficiency in these supporting systems without requiring the cost or complexity of wide-bandgap semiconductors.
The Bottom Line
ROHM's fourth-generation 650 V automotive IGBTs are now available across three package families with more configurations in development, giving EV suppliers an updated silicon option for auxiliary power electronics alongside the SiC transition underway in higher-power drivetrain applications.
