# Innovation Under the Hood - Part 2

- Show: [EE Times Current](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current)
- Published: 2023-11-10
- Length: 34m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2023-11-10-innovation-under-the-hood-part-2
- Listen: https://podcast.show/aspencore/episode/122353883/

## Summary

Peter Vaughan, Director of BizDev for Automotive at Power Integrations, discusses the evolution of electric vehicle power electronics, focusing on the transition from 12V lead-acid batteries to high-efficiency power supplies. He explains how Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology enables compact, heat-sink-free converters that improve reliability and efficiency, citing examples like the InnoSwitch3-AQ and Team Alpha Centauri's solar car. The conversation also covers functional safety requirements, the elimination of the 12V battery to prevent 'dead battery' issues, and the potential shift to higher voltage architectures (36V or 48V) to reduce copper weight.

## Chapters

- [2:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2023-11-10-innovation-under-the-hood-part-2#t=134) Skateboard Chassis and Historical Context
- [4:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2023-11-10-innovation-under-the-hood-part-2#t=244) Functional Safety and Shock Protection
- [12:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2023-11-10-innovation-under-the-hood-part-2#t=765) Replacing the 12V Lead-Acid Battery
- [22:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2023-11-10-innovation-under-the-hood-part-2#t=1355) GaN Technology and Heat-Sink-Free Design
- [26:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2023-11-10-innovation-under-the-hood-part-2#t=1561) Adoption Challenges and Future Voltage Architectures

## Topics

- [Analog & power electronics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/analog-and-power-electronics)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Power Integrations (company)
- Tesla (company)
- General Motors (company)
- InnoSwitch3-AQ (product)
- Team Alpha Centauri (other)
- Bridgestone's World Solar Challenge (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [GaN Powers Up in AI, Robotics, and Our Lives](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2025-02-18-gan-powers-up-in-ai-robotics-and-our-lives) (Moore's Lobby)
- [Powering a Green Future: Insights from Infineon's Peter Wawer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2023-05-16-powering-a-green-future-insights-from-infineons-peter-wawer) (Moore's Lobby)
- [Moore's Law, GaN and SiC devices - Gallimaufry GaN Gabble](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-09-20-moores-law-gan-and-sic-devices-gallimaufry-gan-gabble) (The Amp Hour)
- [An Interview with Bob Simpson - Ardent Automotive Artisan](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-09-10-an-interview-with-bob-simpson-ardent-automotive-artisan) (The Amp Hour)
- [Ep. 6 | Crucial Trade-Offs in Automotive Power Design with Tesla and Vicor](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2020-07-23-ep-6-crucial-trade-offs-in-automotive-power-design-with-tesla-and-vicor) (Moore's Lobby)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2023-11-10-innovation-under-the-hood-part-2. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to EE Times Current.