Conventional on-board chargers (OBCs) for electric cars are now reaching their performance and space limits. Finepower is setting new standards here with a GaN-based charger.

Greater ranges and a denser network of powerful charging stations are urgently needed to increase the attractiveness of electric vehicles. Until then, on-board chargers will give electric cars the necessary independence, because practically every socket will become a charging station. Due to the increasing storage size of the accumulators and the limited space available in the vehicles, however, conventional devices with silicon transistors are reaching their limits. Finepower has therefore developed an on-board charger (OBC) based on gallium nitride which, at 3 kW/litre, exceeds the power density of conventional chargers by 300%.
As a result, this water-cooled OBC measuring 210 x 50 x 60 mm (without housing) is extremely compact. It can convert input voltages from 85 to 264 V_AC with a maximum power of 3,600 W to DC voltages from 200 to 450 V_DC. The maximum output current is 10 A_DC. Thanks to the innovative single-stage IBI-LLC topology, this happens at 230 V_AC with an efficiency of 97%. With 115 V_AC input voltage, the efficiency is still 93%. Thanks to the excellent power factor of over 0.98, the nominal power of the supply can be skimmed off almost completely as active power.
Due to the completely DSP-based control, the OBC can be individually adapted to the respective operating conditions. Communication takes place via the standardized CAN bus. Up to three GaN chargers can be coupled together for three-phase supply, for example via three-phase sockets.

Special features:
Power density up to 3 kW/litre
Innovative single-stage IBI-LLC topology
Prepared for three-phase operation with three OBCs
Fully digital control with DSP
GaN power transistors

Technical data
Maximum input power: 3,600 W
Input voltage range: 85 to 264 V_AC
Output voltage range: 200 to 450 V_DC
Maximum output current: 10 A_DC
Maximum efficiency: 97% at 230 V_AC; 93% at 115 V_AC
Power factor: >0.98
Dimensions: 210 x 90 x 60 mm (without housing)
Operating temperature: -40°C to 60°C, water-cooled
Communication: CAN-BUS