The 48-Volt-LV DC-DC Converter Solutions

The rapid development of new energy electric vehicles has led to the growth of internal electronic components, among which motor inverters, DC/DC converters, and onboard battery chargers (OBCs), which play an important role, are emerging in tandem. 

The rapid development of new energy electric vehicles has led to the growth of internal electronic components, among which motor inverters, DC/DC converters, and onboard battery chargers (OBCs), which play an important role, are emerging in tandem. According to Global Information, Inc., the global DC/DC converter is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 12.1%, from $9.9 billion in 2021 to $17.6 billion in 2026.

DC/DC converters convert incoming DC power into DC power of different voltages and provide a stable voltage source for the connected load. In the field of electric vehicles are responsible for converting energy from high-voltage battery packs to low-voltage batteries to power low-voltage devices such as air conditioners, lights, wipers, stereos, navigation, and other 12-48V devices in the car.

48V low-voltage DC-DC converter modules provide power flow between the 48V (medium voltage) and 12V (low voltage) power grids for mild hybrid vehicles (MHEVs). End users will not notice these modules, but they are integral to their function and role, as the MHEV does not have a traditional 12V grid alternator. Instead, it has an integrated 48V starter/generator. This unit charges both the 48V and 12V batteries via a DC-DC module.

The DC-DC converter module can be bi-directional, allowing application-specific power to flow in either direction. Common power levels are 1kW to 3kW, and system components need to be rated at 40V on a 12V grid and 80V or higher on a 48V grid. Our discrete MOSFETs and Automotive Power Modules (APMs) enable scalable design solutions and provide excellent power density and reliability for the DC-DC converter modules required for MHEVs.

DC/DC Converter Test Application Examples

NEVSEMI's programmable DC power supply can efficiently meet the high-voltage and low-voltage testing of DC/DC converters, including input voltage range testing, transient response testing, switching time testing, and protection function testing. Its excellent power supply characteristics and programmable analog functions can automatically complete the testing process, directly replacing the traditional manually controlled regulator and significantly improving testing efficiency. NEVSEMI's programmable DC power supply, with a power range from 4kW to 300kW, can also respond to the market demand for higher-power DC/DC converter testing.

Input voltage range testing: with GROUP and STEP, you can set up phase or continuous voltage and current changes, change the climb and fall speed, or simulate power supply transient power failure. Without writing a program, you can do several power supply simulations.

Instantaneous response and switching time test: With low ripple, high accuracy, and high voltage regulation rate, together with fast response speed and creep rate, it is suitable for simulating various DC power supply tests with high efficiency.

Protection function test: with over-voltage protection (OVP), over-current protection (OCP), over-power protection (OPP), over-temperature protection (OTP), line voltage compensation over-voltage protection (LDC OV), input under voltage protection (Vin UV), input three voltage unbalance protection (Phase Fail), etc.

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