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Taiwan-based SiC power device provider allies with Hon Hai Technology to power EVs
Hon Hai Technology Group(Foxconn) will acquire a 40% stake in Fast SiC, a Taiwan-based SiC power device provider. How well does a Taiwan company compete in this new round of heated EV semiconductor race? Find out in this story.
The next big thing that prompted Tesla and Toyota to scramble for is the third generation semiconductor material silicon carbide (SiC). This new generation material is smaller in size, higher in efficiency and dissipates heat faster. According to Infineon, SiC-powered vehicles can last 10% longer than others. World leading market intelligence provider Trendforce forecasted that yoy growth for the SiC power device market will reach over 32% in 2022.
Founder of Fast SiC, Dr. Cheng-Tyng Yen, has been rooting for 3rd gen semiconductors since his research years at Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI). That means Dr.Yen and his team already have more than 10 years of experience in this field. During his research years, Dr. Yen had the opportunity to visit Acreo Swedish ICT(now Acreo RISE), a Swedish government affiliated research institute to work on developing SiC MOSFETs.
Six months in Sweden was an eye-opening experience for Dr.Yen. “It broke my stereotype on many levels,” said Dr.Yen. He got a peek into Sweden’s high-pressure tech workplace and also reaffirmed the development potential of SiC material on an unprecedented global scale.
Coming back to Taiwan, Dr.Yen got involved in a SiC spin-off from ITRI and landed a position as the device design manager there starting from 2013. Later in 2019, Dr. Yen founded his own company, Fast SiC, after his previous hirer decided to close down the Taiwan business and set up shop in China.
“I made up my mind to stay in Taiwan. This is my home,” said Dr.Yen. He declined to follow his previous employer to China due to such reasons. Furthermore, the IC design and manufacturing industry is a force to be reckoned with in Taiwan.
In fact, Taiwan’s electricity management business is shining on the global stage. The two giant stars of Taiwan’s energy industry are Delta Electronics and LiteOn. Delta Electronics is the world number one provider of power and thermal management solutions, with LiteOn trailing in second place globally.
Dr.Yen is a jack of all trades. He holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from National Taiwan University (NTU). Furthermore, he also secured a MBA in Finance from NTU. “I have always been interested in state-of-the-art technology. At one point in my life, I even wanted to pursue a career in venture capital so I can witness tech change on the cusp,” said Dr.Yen. Dr. Yen has also translated a few books from English and Japanese into Chinese. It was a side hustle that he enjoyed a great deal.
Powerful ally
Staying in Taiwan meant that FastSiC is on the constant lookout for funds. As a result, FastSic has partnered with Hon Hai Precision Co.Ltd. (Foxconn), the world’s leading contract electronics maker, to develop SiC MOSFET dedicated to EVs.
Now that Hon Hai has acquired a 40% stake of Fast SiC, business operations are expected to expedite. This was a significant milestone, both for the company and for the founder Dr.Yen personally. Dr.Yen said he even took out a loan on his house to acquire sufficient funding needed for his start-up. “For 3rd gen semiconductor startups, It’s not that easy for semiconductor start-ups to get the funding in Taiwan,” said Dr.Yen. This shortfall is mainly due to the smaller EV terminal market size in Taiwan.
The successful initiation of the partnership can be attributed to Hon Hai’s clear vision for electric vehicles. Hon Hai’s Mobility in Harmony (MIH) platform brings together various suppliers on the EV supply chain.
There were also other partnership negotiations but FastSiC chose Hon Hai after rounds and rounds of evaluation and communication. “We pitched our business plan to Hon Hai via MediaTek connections,” said Dr. Yen. MediaTek, a fabless provider of consumer electronics based in Taiwan, is the fourth biggest IC designer in terms of revenue.
David versus Goliath
Traction inverters which drive the electric motors of EVs with the electricity stored in the batteries are one of the core components of EV. SiC-based inverters are more efficient, light-weighted and compact than Si-IGBT-based inverters and thus enabling longer range. Leading EV brands such as Tesla are already adopting this technology with their EV cars. In fact, Tesla has struck manufacturing deals with big semiconductor IDM companies like Germany-based Infineon and Switzerland-based STMicroelectronics.
Smaller companies like Fast SiC have an edge over big companies in terms of production flexibility. Meanwhile, Fast SiC’s proximity to the Asia market also serves as an attraction for companies in the region. “We are mainly aiming at the Asia market. That includes Japan, South Korea, China and Taiwan,” said Dr.Yen.
Fast SiC’s product lineup already has some models available for EV application.
Blue ocean of consumer electronics
Applications of 3rd gen semiconductors are all around us. In fact, many fast chargers incorporate gallium nitride (GaN) in power transistors. This adoption enables 3 times faster charging and half the size and weight. Apple’s 140-watt MagSafe charger for its new MacBook Pro was a big win for GaN, marking the first time Apple adopted GaN technology.
“Despite all its mighty features, gallium nitride fast chargers are sometimes unreliable,” said Dr.Yen. GaN cannot compare with SiC with regards to reliability. However, the market has not seen SiC applications on fast chargers. Therefore, Fast SiC is taking a move into the virgin land. “Our SiC fast chargers are excellent in thermal management and reliability,” lauded Dr. Yen.
Fast SiC provides top-performing SiC MOSFETs and Schottky Rectifiers, which are applicable in automotive, industrial and consumer industries.
In Fast SiC’s product lineup, one would see intriguing product names that go by “Cheetah, Falcon and Husky” respectively. Speed is a common feature in all these animals. “We want to show that Fast SiC’s products are highly efficient. Our mission is to provide top performing MOSFETs for electric vehicles, fast chargers and many more devices,” concluded Dr. Yen.
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