Electromobility is fast becoming a reality. In fact, every seventh car produced today is operating on a form of electrification. Demonstrating the power and convenience of an electric vehicle (EV), Volkswagen of America has teamed up with long-distance driving expert Rainer Zietlow for the VW ID.4 USA tour that recently kicked off at Volkswagen of America’s headquarters in Herndon, VA. Infineon Technologies AG, a world leader in semiconductors for mobility, energy efficiency, and the IoT, is on board of the new VW ID.4 with over 50 semiconductors and enabling energy-efficient electric drives and charging infrastructure. Moreover, the drive route of the tour, which will be crisscrossing the United States, will incorporate five Infineon facilities including Livonia, MI; San Jose, CA; Austin, TX; El Segundo, CA; and Washington D.C.
“Infineon supports climate protection through reduction of our own carbon emissions, along with products and technologies that enable renewable power generation, efficient storage, and sustainable mobility,” said Lars Ullrich, Vice President of Automotive, Infineon Technologies Americas. “Our semiconductors are at the heart of vehicle electrification and the enabling charging infrastructure. By increasing range, efficiency and accessibility, we are helping the automotive industry to successfully achieve the fundamental transformation towards electromobility – to protect the environment without compromising drivers’ flexibility and comfort.”
Stringent CO2 emission standards are accelerating EV adoption globally. In the U.S., for example, the state of California mandates that by 2035, all new cars and passenger trucks sold must be zero-emission vehicles. Changing consumer preferences and the availability of new EV models have further increased EV adoption over the last year.
Semiconductors play a major role for electromobility by powering electric drives and laying the foundation for carbon-neutral mobility of the future. Well above 50 percent of all vehicles newly produced at the end of this decade are expected to be driven by a partially or fully electric powertrain. Guided by the principles of ‘clean, safe and smart,’ Infineon is working with car manufacturers and suppliers to create vehicles with electric drivetrains and provides a multitude of semiconductor solutions. Already this year, over 35 electric and plug-in hybrid models with a drivetrain incorporating power semiconductors from Infineon will be in production worldwide.
The ID.4 is Volkswagen’s first all-electric SUV and the brand’s first global EV. At launch in the U.S., it is powered by a 77kWh (net) battery pack and has a range of approximately 517 kilometers (WLTP) in ID.4 Pro rear-wheel-drive models. At a public DC fast-charging station, with 125 kW charging, the ID.4 can go from five to 80 percent charged in about 38 minutes. Infineon provides over 50 semiconductor components for the ID.4, including power semiconductors, microcontrollers and driver ICs. At the heart of the electric drivetrain is a power module from the HybridPACK™ Drive product family for the conversion of energy between the battery and motor. Looking beyond the car, semiconductors from Infineon are also playing an important role in the electric charging infrastructure and enabling faster charging.
