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hofer powertrain and ETH Zurich are collaborating on a new GaN multilevel inverter project

July 07, 2024

hofer powertrain has begun a research project with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH Zurich), to develop a multilevel Gallium Nitride (GaN) traction inverter.

hofer powertrain reports it has made significant strides in developing advanced multilevel power electronics utilizing Gallium Nitride (GaN) chip technology over the last four years, resulting in enhanced efficiency and power density compared to silicon-based systems. Their latest 800V GaN inverters have showcased remarkable performance in tests. This new project with ETH Zurich builds on that experience to realize a revolutionary inverter solution, which aims to leverage a novel modulation scheme, operate at very high switching frequencies, and incorporate a wide array of additional pioneering features that the company has been working on in recent years.

ETH has reportedly assigned a ‘highly qualified PhD candidate’ to lead the research efforts, ensuring the project benefits from fresh, innovative thinking and rigorous academic oversight. The project will be supervised by Professor Johann Biela from ETH Zurich, a renowned expert in power electronics, and Lukasz Roslaniec, the division lead of power electronics at hofer powertrain, who brings extensive industry experience to the table and has been working on these technologies proactively.