China’s new energy vehicle batteries have CATL, when will domestic electronic control chips arrive?

The recent ZTE incident in the communications field has made Chinese people realize their shortcomings in the chip field. Not only communications equipment needs chips, but the new electric vehicle industry also needs chips.

With the rapid development of energy and intelligence in the automotive industry, the development of the automotive chip industry has also been sought after. In 2017, the price of semiconductor chips soared. At present, each car is equipped with an average of 8 automotive chips.

What is worrying is that the chips used in the domestic automotive industry are almost entirely imported.

The core technologies that distinguish new energy vehicles from traditional vehicles are the "three electrics": battery, electric drive, and electronic control. In addition to the traditional vehicle controller, the electronic control of new energy vehicles also includes motor controllers and battery management systems. The core components of motor and electronic control, such as IGBT chips, also fundamentally determine the overall technical level of the electronic control system.

IGBT accounts for more than 40% of the total cost of the motor controller, and the motor drive system accounts for 15% to 20% of the total vehicle cost. That is to say, IGBT accounts for 7% to 10% of the total vehicle cost, making it the most expensive component in an electric vehicle besides the battery.

my country's automotive IGBT technology has just started, and chips and modules are not yet fully mature in China. More than 98% of my country's new energy vehicle IGBT products are imported from abroad, and the import cost is expensive.

The degree of domestic independence in the field of motors and electronic controls is still far behind the research and development and production of power batteries. For example, IGBT chips still do not have complete independent production capabilities, and there are still only a few vehicle manufacturers and parts manufacturers with complete system intellectual property rights.

Among my country's companies with relatively advanced IGBT technology, only one or two meet the requirements for supporting new energy vehicles, and their technology maturity and advancement are still insufficient.

IGBT has currently developed to the 7.5th generation. The 7th generation was launched by Mitsubishi Electric in 2012. Mitsubishi Electric's current level can be regarded as the 7.5th generation. my country is currently at the third generation level, with a large gap.

In the future, the domestic IGBT market for new energy vehicles will reach tens of billions of yuan. Whether new energy vehicles can reduce costs and improve vehicle energy efficiency are closely related to IGBT modules.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.