PSiC2022, the 5th China International New Energy Vehicle Power Semiconductor Market and Key Technology Forum, will be held in Wuhu, Anhui from July 13 to 15, 2022. As the title sponsor of PSiC2022, Shawn, general manager of Anhui RedPower Microelectronics Co.,Ltd, accepted an exclusive interview with China Power Electronics Industry Network.

Reporter: RedPower is mainly engaged in IGBT/SiC chip design, power module research and development, and packaging and testing business. With the promotion of national policies in recent years, what changes have taken place in the business layout?

Shawn: RedPower is positioned as the research and development, manufacturing and sales of automotive IGBT products. In recent years, the core business layout of new energy vehicles has not changed. At the same time, starting this year, we will increase product research and development and market investment in photovoltaic, wind power, energy storage, charging, and power quality related fields.

Reporter: What is the current progress of the company's two-phase project? Has the first phase achieved the established goals? What are the main supporting conditions for the release of production capacity and shipments after production? When will the second phase project be launched?

Shawn: The progress of our first phase project is relatively smooth, and the production line capacity has reached the expected annual production capacity target of 600,000 new energy vehicles. At present, our products have been successfully introduced to two Tier1s, and will be put into mass production this year. In view of the continued strong growth in demand for new energy vehicles, our second phase project will be launched ahead of schedule in 2023 and invested in stages.

Reporter: With the development of third-generation semiconductor technology, what progress has the company made in silicon carbide MOS/SBD chip design, power module packaging and testing, and system application solutions? Are there any mass-produced products? How are the applications?

Shawn: RedPower's silicon carbide MOS/SBD chip R&D project was launched in 2021. At present, the first-generation technology platform has completed preliminary testing and verification, and the second-generation technology platform development project will be launched in 2022. Our silicon carbide modules have started pre-research and evaluation of multiple solutions, some solutions have entered the functional testing stage, and new process equipment for production lines has also started research and investment planning. In terms of system applications, the current focus is on joint development with Chery Group's 800V high-voltage platform models, and it is expected to start import verification in 2023.

Reporter: RedPower's key layout includes new energy markets such as electric vehicles, wind power, photovoltaics, energy storage, and charging piles, while taking into account power quality and industrial control needs. Which markets are more suitable for the use of silicon carbide devices? What are the challenges (specific difficulties) in application? How do you deal with these challenges with your customers?

Shawn: At present, the main demand for silicon carbide comes from electric vehicles, photovoltaics and charging fields. When the technology becomes more mature and the cost is reduced to a reasonable range, it will gradually expand to other fields. Silicon carbide MOS drive design, reliability and life are still the pain points faced in applications. RedPower has currently carried out in-depth cooperation and joint development with Chery Automobile Platform and external drive solution partners.

Reporter: Recently, some car companies have been using silicon carbide modules as inverters. Are RedPower's products expected to enter the supply chain? What problems still need to be solved?

Shawn: RedPower's silicon carbide modules will first enter Chery Automobile's supply chain, and then gradually carry out cooperation with other car manufacturers and system manufacturers. The main problems facing the industry at present are the bottlenecks in the production capacity supply of wafer substrate materials, wafer production resources, and chip finished products.

Reporter: In terms of wafer manufacturing, what level is RedPower's process at?

Shawn: RedPower's IGBT chip uses the industry's latest micro-groove technology, and its performance parameters are relatively close to the latest products of international manufacturers, and it is at the leading level among domestic peers.

Reporter: From 2019 to now, in more than three years, how do you summarize the development and innovation of RedPower? What unforgettable experiences can you share? What are the future development plans?

Shawn: As an innovative enterprise, RedPower, relying on its own R&D, production and industry resource advantages, can develop chips and modules with better performance according to customer needs, use self-developed chips to reduce product costs, and provide customers with highly competitive products and comprehensive technical solutions. Since the company settled in Wuhu City, Anhui Province, with the help of relevant industrial and talent supporting policies of provincial, municipal and district governments (such as: solving the company's plant construction and development needs, guiding capital injection, using the industrial chain chain leader system, four-send-one-service and other industrial support policies, talent introduction subsidy policies, etc.), it has provided strong guarantees for the healthy and sustainable development of the company. According to the company's future strategic development plan, we will use 6-8 years to build the company into a scale enterprise that meets the requirements of the main board listing, and strive to achieve the core pillar enterprise of provincial, municipal and even national new energy vehicle IGBT products!

Reporter: PSiC2022 The 5th China International New Energy Vehicle Power Semiconductor Market and Key Technology Forum is held in Wuhu. Why did RedPower sponsor this forum? How will you use this opportunity to showcase your technological advantages? What are your expectations for PSiC2022?

Shawn: After three years of accumulation, RedPower has initially opened up key industry chain links such as chip design, module design, and packaging manufacturing. Its core products have been successfully mass-produced on many Chery new energy vehicle platforms. We hope to show RedPower's current achievements and future industry layout plans to upstream and downstream partners and colleagues from all walks of life through this conference, so that future cooperation will be closer and smoother.