Folding two conversion stages into one shows how chip integration is becoming the main lever on onboard charger size and cost
Visteon-Shinry Power Electronics, a joint venture between Visteon and Shinry, is working with Infineon on a single-stage onboard charger for electric vehicles built around the chipmaker’s gallium nitride (GaN) switches. Announced at Munich’s electronica trade fair, the design merges conversion steps that conventional chargers split across two stages.
Doing so removes the bulk capacitors of two-stage designs, which the partners say improves reliability and allows smaller, cheaper packaging of a component nearly every electric vehicle carries. The unit handles 19.2 kW on single-phase supplies and 22 kW on three-phase, with vehicle-to-everything bidirectional power flow. That lets the vehicle interact with the grid and use stored energy more flexibly.
Infineon’s monolithic bidirectional switches block voltage and conduct current in both directions within one device, cutting the semiconductor count in the power stage. Fast GaN switching also raises power density and shrinks magnetic components, and Infineon says the switch was recognised at the 2026 World New Energy Vehicle Congress.
“This collaboration brings together complementary strengths in vehicle electronics, power conversion and advanced semiconductors,” Zilai Zhao, Co-General Manager at Visteon-Shinry Power Electronics, said. “By combining Visteon’s system expertise and Infineon’s GaN leadership, we’re delivering a transformative solution for next-generation EV platforms.”
