China Surpasses 10 Million EV Charging Stations: Major Growth for Electronic Components

Author: Release time:2024-07-25 Source: Font: Big Middle Small View count:313

According to a recent report from the China Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Promotion Alliance, the total number of electric vehicle (EV) charging and swapping infrastructure in China reached 10.24 million units by June 2024. Between January and June 2024, the number of new charging stations increased by 1.65 million units, marking a 14.2% growth.


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The design and manufacturing of charging stations involve numerous electronic components, including microcontrollers (MCUs), DC/DC converters, MOSFETs, IGBTs, RS485 and RS232 communication chips, low-dropout regulators (LDOs), display drivers, safety management chips, and Bluetooth chips. As a result, component manufacturers are poised to benefit significantly from the surge in charging infrastructure development.

 

8-bit vs. 32-bit MCUs in Charging Stations

In charging stations, MCUs are critical for controlling the charging process, data communication, human-machine interaction, and safety management. MCUs monitor parameters such as charging current, voltage, and time to ensure safe and efficient charging. They also communicate with the vehicle to adjust charging power and modes.


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Charging stations are complex systems comprising both the charging gun and the stationary post. For cost reasons, many designs use 8-bit MCUs in the gun. For instance, GAC New Energy's 2860W AC charging gun uses the STM8S005K6 8-bit MCU, while Delphi’s 1760W AC charging gun employs NXP's S9S08AW16A. The 8-bit MCUs typically operate at 16 MHz and offer 16-32KB of Flash memory, which is sufficient for the gun's functionality.

 

In contrast, the stationary post, which includes human-machine interfaces (HMIs), communication, and charging management, benefits from 32-bit MCUs. Major suppliers of 32-bit MCUs include STMicroelectronics, Texas Instruments, Renesas, NXP, and Infineon. Domestic 32-bit MCUs are also competitive in this space. For example, GigaDevice’s GD32 series MCUs are used in charging post control modules, HMI displays, and AD/DC inversion controls.

 

Other notable domestic players like Unisoc, National Technology, and GigaDevice also provide 32-bit MCU solutions for the charging station market. The APM32F411 MCU series from GigaDevice, for example, supports precise power management and charging control with multiple operational modes.

 

Overall, MCUs are the preferred choice for building charging stations due to their universality, standardization, flexibility, cost-effectiveness, reliability, and low power consumption. As the intelligence of charging stations improves, MCUs are also enhancing their performance and integrating neural processing units (NPUs) to drive innovation in differentiated features.

 

The Rise of Third-Generation Semiconductors

A core requirement for modern charging stations is fast charging. Super-junction MOSFETs, which offer low conduction and switching losses, high reliability, and high power density, are popular choices. Infineon's CoolMOS™ series is a prime example. However, super-junction MOSFETs are still silicon-based and face performance limitations, leading to the adoption of third-generation semiconductors like silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN).


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The demand for third-generation semiconductors is significant in the new energy vehicle sector. According to CASA Research, the market size for third-generation semiconductor power electronics in China’s EV and charging station market was approximately 6.85 billion RMB in 2022 and reached 9.4 billion RMB in 2023, a 37.5% year-on-year increase.

 

In charging stations, the charging module constitutes 50% of the total value, with power devices, magnetic components, capacitors, and PCBs being key components. Power devices account for 30% of this value. While SiC devices are currently used mainly in high-voltage applications, GaN devices have significant opportunities in platforms below 800V due to their high frequency and lightweight characteristics, which reduce the size and weight of magnetic components and improve overall system efficiency. SiC devices, on the other hand, excel in 1200V applications, providing up to a 30% increase in output power and reducing losses by approximately 50% compared to traditional silicon devices.

 

Communication and Transceiver Devices in Charging Stations

Charging stations require effective communication with vehicles and users. Therefore, communication devices such as Bluetooth chips, NFC chips, RS485, and RS232 chips are essential.



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Many smart charging stations now use low-power Bluetooth chips to minimize energy consumption while providing reliable wireless performance. This technology enhances human-machine interaction and real-time monitoring of charging station status. Companies like SKYLAB and Lentz Technology are advancing solutions in this area.

 

NFC (Near Field Communication) is another popular communication method, enabling short-range, high-frequency, contactless data transfer. NFC chips from companies like RMIC Technology (MS520) and Macrochip (RC522) are already used in the market. The MS520 is a highly integrated NFC read/write card chip operating at 13.56 MHz, supporting various transmission speeds.

 

RS-485 is a differential transmission method used for long-distance, stable communication between nodes. Many traditional devices, including industrial controllers and smart meters, use RS-485 interfaces. For example, the D3485 RS-485 transceiver from Xinguang Technology features a 5V power supply and can achieve error-free data transmission at up to 10 Mbps.

 

Passive Components in Charging Stations

Charging stations also use various passive components, such as surge protection modules, resettable fuses, TVS diodes, film capacitors, shunt resistors, and pre-charge resistors. Surge protection modules are crucial for outdoor installations, protecting against lightning strikes. Different configurations of metal oxide varistors and gas discharge tubes offer various protection levels.


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Film capacitors, known for their high voltage ratings, excellent frequency characteristics, safety, and wide temperature range, are commonly used in DC charging stations. DC-LINK film capacitors filter ripple currents, provide stable DC voltage, and reduce inductive effects on PCBs.

 

Conclusion

According to national forecasts, the number of new energy vehicles in China is expected to exceed 60 million by the end of 2025. Given the planned 2:1 ratio of vehicles to charging stations, China will need 30 million charging stations by then. This represents a significant market opportunity, with ongoing expansion and the phase-out of low-power stations creating a vast market for electronic components.


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