Delphi Technologies, a large auto supplier that operates its North American headquarters in Troy, today announced an investment in PolyCharge America, Inc. in Tucson, Ariz. The company has developed a new capacitor technology that helps make high-power inverters smaller, lighter, and more tolerant to high temperatures.
The minority equity investment, for an undisclosed sum, builds on an existing long-standing technology partnership between Delphi Technologies and Sigma Technologies, the parent company of PolyCharge.
Inverters are a key system element in vehicle electrification, controlling the electric propulsion motor. Package space is at a premium in today’s vehicles and OEMs face challenges with space, weight, and cost in tight engine compartments. The new technology from PolyCharge addresses the concerns.
“This investment demonstrates our commitment to electro-mobility and bringing new, highly innovative technologies to solve OEM customers’ biggest challenges,” says Liam Butterworth, CEO of Delphi Technologies. “PolyCharge’s technology delivers on both of these objectives. Our strategy is to forge strategic collaborations and investments where they support our growth ambitions and help our global customers deliver more attractive cost-effective solutions for consumers.”
Today’s inverters use a DC-link capacitor, which is based on wound polypropylene technology. PolyCharge’s solid-state NanoLam capacitor technology utilizes thin polymer dielectrics to produce self-healing high-voltage capacitors that are half the size and weight of the current technology, with significantly higher temperature resistance.
“With this investment, and a strong partner in Delphi Technologies, PolyCharge is well-positioned to lead in the development of next-generation capacitor products for vehicle electrification and other applications where reductions in weight and volume, as well as performance in harsh operating environments, are required,” says Angelo Yializis, CEO of PolyCharge
Delphi Technologies, which focuses on vehicle propulsion and aftermarket solutions, was created as a spin-off from Delphi Automotive last December to drive progress on greener solutions for passenger and commercial vehicles. The company has annual revenue of $4.5 billion and operates technical centers, manufacturing sites, and customer support services in 24 countries.
Sigma Technologies formed PolyCharge in September 2017 to develop and commercialize its NanoLam technology for electric drive vehicles, renewable energy inverters, medical, aerospace, and industrial mobility applications.
