What OEMs Should Look for in an EV Power-Electronics Engineering Partner
Quick Answer
OEMs should evaluate EV power-electronics partners on technical capabilities (SiC/GaN expertise, topology design), manufacturing scalability (DFM, supply chain), validation (EMI/EMC, environmental testing), engineering support (customization, prototyping), and commercial terms (TCO, IP, long-term partnership). eDrift Electric offers automotive-grade SiC on-board chargers and DC-DC converters with engineering support from prototype to production, leveraging the Hosur/Tamil Nadu and IIT Palakkad ecosystems.
What You Will Learn
This guide helps OEMs evaluate EV power-electronics engineering partners across technical capabilities, manufacturing scalability, validation and compliance, engineering support, commercial terms, and long-term partnership potential. You'll learn key criteria for selecting the right partner for your EV power-electronics needs.
1. Technical Capabilities
1.1 Semiconductor Expertise
Evaluate partner's expertise in:
SiC MOSFETs: High-efficiency, high-frequency designs
GaN HEMTs: Ultra-high-frequency, compact designs
IGBTs: Cost-sensitive, mature technology
Device selection: Matching semiconductor to application requirements
Key questions:
What semiconductor technologies do they specialize in?
Do they have proven SiC/GaN designs in production?
How do they optimize switching frequency vs efficiency?
1.2 Topology Design
Common EV power-electronics topologies:
LLC resonant converters: High-efficiency OBCs and DC-DCs
Dual active bridge (DAB): Bidirectional power flow
Phase-shifted full bridge: Medium-power applications
Flyback/forward: Low-power auxiliary converters
Key questions:
Which topologies do they specialize in?
Do they have reference designs or case studies?
Can they customize topology for specific requirements?
1.3 Thermal and Mechanical Design
Critical capabilities:
Thermal simulation and optimization
Compact packaging for space-constrained applications
Liquid cooling design for high-power systems
Vibration and shock resistance
Key questions:
What thermal simulation tools do they use?
Do they have experience with liquid-cooled designs?
How do they ensure mechanical robustness?
2. Manufacturing Scalability
2.1 Design for Manufacturing (DFM)
DFM considerations:
Component availability and lead times
PCB design for automated assembly
Testability (test points, in-circuit testing)
Minimize manual assembly steps
Key questions:
Do they follow DFM principles?
What is their component sourcing strategy?
How do they handle supply-chain disruptions?
2.2 Production Capacity
Evaluate:
Current production capacity (units/month)
Scalability to 10× volume
Quality systems (ISO 9001, IATF 16949)
Traceability and quality control
Key questions:
What is their current production capacity?
Can they scale to your projected volumes?
What quality certifications do they hold?
2.3 Supply Chain Management
Critical factors:
Semiconductor sourcing (SiC MOSFETs, GaN HEMTs)
Magnetics suppliers (transformers, inductors)
Passive components (capacitors, resistors)
Enclosure and mechanical parts
Key questions:
Do they have long-term supply agreements?
How do they manage component obsolescence?
What is their strategy for supply-chain resilience?
3. Validation and Compliance
3.1 EMI/EMC Testing
Required standards:
CISPR 25: Automotive EMI emissions
ISO 11452: Immunity testing
ISO 7637: Transient immunity
Key questions:
Do they have in-house EMI/EMC testing?
What is their EMI design methodology?
Have they passed CISPR 25 and ISO 11452 for production products?
3.2 Environmental Testing
Required tests:
Thermal cycling (-40°C to +85°C)
Vibration and shock (ISO 16750)
Humidity and salt spray
IP rating (dust/water ingress)
Key questions:
What environmental tests do they perform?
Do they have in-house test chambers?
What are their typical test results and margins?
3.3 Automotive Compliance
Standards and certifications:
AIS-138/BIS: India automotive standard
IEC 61851: EV charging standards
ISO 26262: Functional safety (if applicable)
IATF 16949: Automotive quality management
Key questions:
What certifications do they hold?
Have they passed AIS-138/BIS for EV chargers?
Do they support ISO 26262 functional safety processes?
4. Engineering Support
4.1 Customization Capabilities
Levels of customization:
Catalog products with minor modifications (connectors, firmware)
Semi-custom designs (voltage range, power rating)
Fully custom designs (topology, packaging, features)
Key questions:
What level of customization do they offer?
What is the typical customization lead time?
What are the NRE (non-recurring engineering) costs?
4.2 Prototyping and Rapid Iteration
Prototyping capabilities:
Quick-turn PCB assembly
3D-printed enclosures
Functional prototypes in 4–8 weeks
Design iteration based on testing feedback
Key questions:
How quickly can they deliver prototypes?
What is their design iteration process?
Do they support co-development with OEM teams?
4.3 Technical Support
Support throughout product lifecycle:
Design phase: Requirements definition, architecture selection
Prototyping: Integration support, troubleshooting
Production: Quality issues, field failures
End-of-life: Obsolescence management, redesign
Key questions:
What technical support do they provide?
Do they assign dedicated engineering resources?
How do they handle field failures and warranty claims?
5. Commercial Terms
5.1 Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
TCO components:
Unit price (BOM + assembly + overhead)
NRE costs (customization, tooling)
Validation costs (testing, certification)
Warranty and service costs
Logistics and inventory costs
Key questions:
What is the total cost of ownership?
Are there volume-based price breaks?
What are the payment terms and lead times?
5.2 IP and Ownership
IP considerations:
Who owns the design IP?
Can the design be used for other customers?
What are the licensing terms?
How are improvements and iterations handled?
Key questions:
What is their IP policy?
Can you exclusive-license custom designs?
How do they handle joint development IP?
5.3 Long-Term Partnership
Partnership factors:
Financial stability and longevity
Roadmap alignment (future technologies)
Geographic proximity (engineering support)
Cultural fit and communication
Key questions:
What is their company vision and roadmap?
How do they invest in R&D?
Are they a long-term strategic partner or transactional supplier?
6. India-Specific Advantages
6.1 Hosur/Tamil Nadu Ecosystem
Advantages:
Proximity to EV OEMs (Ather, Ola, TVS)
Electronics manufacturing ecosystem
Skilled engineering talent
Cost-competitive manufacturing
Key questions:
Where are their engineering and manufacturing facilities?
Do they leverage the Hosur/Tamil Nadu ecosystem?
What is their engineering team size and expertise?
6.2 IIT Palakkad Ecosystem
Advantages:
Access to research and talent
Collaboration on advanced technologies
Internship and hiring pipeline
Key questions:
Do they collaborate with academic institutions?
How do they stay current with research?
What is their R&D investment?
7. Red Flags to Avoid
No production experience: Only reference designs or prototypes
Unclear IP terms: Vague or unfavorable IP agreements
Poor communication: Slow responses, language barriers
No quality systems: Lack of ISO/IATF certifications
Overpromising: Unrealistic timelines or performance claims
Single-source dependency: No supply-chain redundancy
No field track record: No production deployments or customer references
8. Due Diligence Checklist
Before selecting a partner:
[x] Review technical capabilities and reference designs
[x] Visit manufacturing facilities (if possible)
[x] Verify quality certifications (ISO 9001, IATF 16949)
[x] Check customer references and case studies
[x] Evaluate prototyping and customization process
[x] Review IP and commercial terms
[x] Assess long-term roadmap alignment
[x] Verify supply-chain resilience
[x] Test communication and responsiveness
[x] Evaluate cultural fit and partnership potential
FAQs
What technical capabilities should I prioritize in an EV power-electronics partner?
Prioritize:
SiC/GaN expertise for high-efficiency designs
Proven topology experience (LLC, DAB, etc.)
Thermal and mechanical design capabilities
EMI/EMC and validation track record
Manufacturing scalability and DFM expertise
How important is manufacturing location?
Important for:
Engineering support proximity
Supply-chain logistics
Cost competitiveness
Time-zone alignment for communication
India (Hosur/Tamil Nadu) offers cost-competitive manufacturing with strong engineering talent and EV ecosystem proximity.
What IP terms are reasonable for custom designs?
Reasonable terms:
OEM owns custom design IP (with NRE payment)
Supplier retains catalog product IP
Joint development: Shared IP or licensing agreements
Clear terms for improvements and iterations
How do I evaluate supply-chain resilience?
Ask about:
Semiconductor sourcing strategy (SiC, GaN, IGBT)
Long-term supply agreements
Component obsolescence management
Alternative supplier options
Inventory buffers for critical components
What is a realistic timeline for custom OBC development?
Typical timeline:
Requirements definition: 2–4 weeks
Design and simulation: 6–10 weeks
Prototype assembly: 4–6 weeks
Testing and iteration: 8–12 weeks
Validation and certification: 8–16 weeks
Total: 6–12 months for production-ready design
Conclusion
Selecting an EV power-electronics engineering partner requires evaluating technical capabilities, manufacturing scalability, validation and compliance, engineering support, commercial terms, and long-term partnership potential. By following this framework, OEMs can select partners that align with their technical, commercial, and strategic goals.
eDrift Electric offers automotive-grade SiC on-board chargers and DC-DC converters with engineering support from prototype to production, leveraging the Hosur/Tamil Nadu and IIT Palakkad ecosystems for cost-competitive, high-quality manufacturing.
