Quietly critical in power electronics, Hana’s automotive IGBT modules target EV inverters

Reviewed: ad hoc news Software & Services desk. Edited and checked on 2026-06-18, 06:04. Details in the imprint.

Hana’s automotive IGBT power modules are nowhere to be seen in an electric car cabin, yet they decide how calmly an inverter runs under full throttle and how hot the power electronics bay feels after a mountain pass. These B2B modules live in the shadow, but their role is anything but small.

What these modules are built for

Hana describes its automotive offering as high-reliability power modules aimed at inverters, onboard chargers, DC-DC converters, and battery management systems, using IGBT and MOSFET dies from major semiconductor vendors. The company highlights experience in both silicon and emerging wide-bandgap devices like SiC in EV powertrains.

In practice, that means Hana designs and assembles modules that must survive high voltage, high current, and relentless thermal cycling in compact housings. Carmakers and tier-1 suppliers use such modules where a failure would mean a sudden loss of propulsion or charging capability.

Package options, from wire-bond to sintered

According to Hana’s power module overview, the company supports standard IGBT module outlines as well as custom packages, combining copper baseplates, advanced molding compounds, and options like Al wire bonding or newer sintering techniques. This mix lets customers trade cost, thermal performance, and robustness for different vehicle segments.

The modules target typical automotive bus voltages around 400 to 800 V and are designed to handle high phase currents in traction inverters. For engineers, that translates into choices: a cost-optimized molded package for a compact crossover, or a more uncompromising sintered design for performance EVs.

Testing depth and automotive standards

Hana emphasizes automotive-grade testing with AEC-Q related qualification flows, 100 percent electrical tests, and burn-in options for power modules. The company also underlines zero-defect philosophies common in automotive, including failure analysis capabilities and reliability labs that support long-life requirements.

For carmakers, this testing depth is crucial. An IGBT module may sit buried in a sealed inverter housing, cooled by glycol and never seen by the driver. Once installed, it is expected to last for years under vibration, humidity, and frequent fast-charging cycles.

Why this matters in daily driving

Drivers never touch an automotive IGBT module, but they feel its limits. Efficient, low-loss modules help inverters run cooler, which can mean quieter cooling fans, less derating on long highway climbs, and slightly better real-world range when the pack is stressed.

Thermal performance also shapes packaging freedom. If a module handles heat well, designers can tuck the inverter into a tighter engine bay area or design sleeker front ends with fewer large cooling openings, which subtly changes how an EV looks and sounds at speed.

Customization and co-design with customers

On its automotive page, Hana points to collaboration with customers on module design, including die selection, layout, and integration with larger assemblies such as power control units. This co-design approach is typical for B2B power electronics where every millimeter and kelvin count.

For an EV platform, that might mean tailoring a module shape to fit around suspension structures or crash beams. It can also involve optimizing current paths and gate drive layouts to tame switching noise that would otherwise bleed into infotainment systems and driver-assistance sensors.

Limitations and competitive pressure

The flip side of this quiet specialization is competition. The power module space includes global players from Europe and Japan, some with their own semiconductor fabs and proprietary module platforms. Hana positions itself as a manufacturing and packaging specialist rather than a chip designer.

That focus keeps the company flexible but also ties it to the roadmap of its semiconductor partners. When new generations of IGBTs or SiC devices arrive, Hana must adapt packaging and processes quickly to stay attractive for upcoming EV platforms.

Context and stock reference

Hana Microelectronics PCL is listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand under ISIN TH0024010006; shares of Hana Microelectronics PCL recently traded on SET in Thai baht.

This article was AI-assisted and editorially reviewed. Product information without guarantee; prices and availability may change at short notice. No investment advice, no buy or sell recommendation. Stock-market transactions involve risks up to total loss.