The trend towards electric vehicles is set as governments around the world commit to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the automotive industry plans to invest more than $330 billion by 2025 to advance vehicle electrification.

But what happens when a community has thousands of electric vehicles connected to the grid at the same time, creating an unprecedented demand for electricity on the grid?

Electric vehicle charging needs to be fast, affordable, safe and reliable, so providing a flexible infrastructure to generate, store, transmit and distribute additional electricity is critical to electrification. Semiconductor technology is the key to making charging easier, more affordable and more sustainable.

Learn more about how the company enables fast and efficient EV chargers

For consumers who do not yet trust a product, change often brings uncertainty. The same goes for potential EV buyers. They need to grasp the driving range, the availability of charging stations, and the time it takes to get back on the road from charging. Convenience and affordability are critical, as family cars must be readily available so that owners can quickly drive to the supermarket or take a day trip on the go. TI's cutting-edge technology will play an important role in making this happen. Embedded processing technologies such as our C2000™ real-time microcontrollers work seamlessly with our isolated gate drivers and GaN power devices to improve charging efficiency.

Size is also important for efficiency gains, so reducing the size of portable DC chargers, such as DC wall-mounted charging boxes, can yield huge gains and better cost-effectiveness. GaN technology enables operation at higher switching frequencies in multilevel power topologies, so engineers can incorporate smaller magnetic components in their power system designs, reducing the cost of components using copper and other raw materials. Fully integrated gallium nitride (GaN) power devices enable faster and more efficient charging than previous silicon-based materials. In addition, the multi-stage topology can improve efficiency, thereby reducing the power required for heat dissipation or cooling, which also helps reduce the overall cost.

At the same time, the capacity of DC fast charging stations has been greatly increased. Previously the standard capacity was 150 kW, now we are working on 350kW and above and will continue to increase capacity. As a result, EVs will charge faster, helping to ensure that chargers don’t become a bottleneck in getting more EVs on the road.

Technology that simplifies charging

At the macro level, ideal power distribution and load sharing are critical to ensuring the flexibility of the infrastructure during peak usage periods. Smart technology and two-way charging can help overcome challenges by monitoring consumer habits and making adjustments in real-time.

With most people staying at home after get off work, their need to charge at the same time needs to be managed. Semiconductor technology can manage power distribution more flexibly through smart power metering, which can simplify charging.

Current sensing and voltage sensing (current sensing and voltage sensing) technologies are more robust than before, enabling connection to the grid to reduce power consumption. Similar to weather-sensitive smart thermostats, smart energy metering using Wi-Fi® and Sub-1GHz standards such as Wi-SUN® can track real-time adjustments to energy pricing and make better power management decisions. In the U.S. and Europe, solar-powered homes are expected to be a significant part of energy storage and EV charging activity.

Two-way charging will allow consumers to send excess power back into the grid. TI's energy metering technology measures distribution flow between electric vehicles, consumer batteries and the grid. Two-way charging stations with smart energy metering have the potential to transform the modern workplace, as electric vehicles sit idle while owners work, allowing grid operators to meet demand with solar and wind power.

Electrification of common transactions

Time is at a premium, so shortening the charging process is important. This reduces charging time on the road and maximizes convenience. Drivers have long been accustomed to gas stations, where they can refuel and pay with a quick, easy transaction. There is a technology that could provide EV drivers with similar payment and connectivity convenience. TI's Sitara processors with Linux software support the Open Charging Protocol (OCPP) and ISO 15118 compliant vehicle-to-grid communication interface, enabling seamless transactions and information exchange between electric vehicles, charging stations and utilities.

Ultimately, the convenience and availability of charging stations will be valued by consumers, helping reduce range anxiety and further driving demand for electric vehicles. Whether improving accessibility, convenience or affordability, our company's semiconductor technology will be a key part of the charging infrastructure, powering the transition to electrification.