IAV and Nexperia Unveil ONE Inverter Concept Enabling Software-Defined, Cell-Level Optimized EV Battery Architecture

The “ONE Inverter” concept combines Nexperia’s innovative GaN and SiC technologies with IAV’s expertise in software-defined systems and battery engineering to explore a next-generation high-voltage architecture for electric mobility. Instead of simply increasing battery capacity, the concept focuses on maximizing the value of each individual cell, enabling more efficient use of existing energy storage.

Through the ONE Inverter approach, IAV and Nexperia are jointly investigating a new system architecture in which software-defined control dynamically manages and distributes the performance of individual battery cells. This allows functions that traditionally rely on separate power electronics to be consolidated into a single integrated system. IAV contributes the underlying software-defined vehicle architecture and battery control strategies, while Nexperia provides advanced wide-bandgap semiconductor technologies.

A key advantage of the ONE Inverter concept is its ability to manage each battery cell based on its actual condition. Instead of being limited by the weakest cell in the pack, every cell can contribute according to its own capability. This improves overall battery utilization and enhances system stability.

This approach is enabled by Nexperia’s wide-bandgap semiconductor portfolio, particularly its bidirectional GaN devices, which support efficient and fast switching at the cell level, making the concept technically and economically viable. Alternative semiconductor solutions would significantly increase system complexity and cost. In addition, other components from Nexperia’s broad portfolio, including bipolar devices, further support the overall system design.

The collaboration highlights IAV’s role in translating semiconductor innovation into system-level, software-defined vehicle architectures. By combining IAV’s expertise in battery systems, software, and vehicle architecture with Nexperia’s capabilities in semiconductors and packaging, the two companies are exploring new ways to build more efficient, resilient, and future-ready electric mobility solutions.

As stated by IAV CEO Jörg Astalosch, the company’s strength lies in transforming technological innovation into customer-oriented system solutions. Together with Nexperia, they are investigating how software-defined battery architectures can unlock higher levels of efficiency, flexibility, and resilience for future software-defined vehicles.

Nexperia SVP Edoardo Merli also emphasized that strong partnerships are essential for driving innovation in next-generation automotive architectures. By combining Nexperia’s expertise in wide-bandgap semiconductors (SiC and GaN) with IAV’s advanced system concepts, the collaboration enables a fundamentally new approach to EV design. Early-stage cooperation helps align semiconductor and system requirements and turn innovative ideas into scalable, high-performance solutions.

A laboratory demonstrator validating the ONE Inverter concept has already been developed, and IAV and Nexperia jointly showcased it at the 2026 European Advanced Automotive Battery Conference (AABC) and the 2026 PCIM Europe conference, attracting strong attention across the industry.