Ricardo joins £10m UK project to build next-gen GaN inverters for Nissan LEAF
Ricardo will develop low-cost Gallium Nitride traction inverters for the next Nissan LEAF under a £10 million UK-backed project aiming to cut EV costs and support the grid.
- £10 million
- 50kW and 150kW
- £4 billion
- Three years
What Happened
Ricardo, a global engineering company specialising in complex propulsion and energy systems, announced today that it is a key partner in Project SUITE, a £10 million UK Government-backed research programme led by Nissan Technical Centre Europe (NTCE). The project will use on-board solar panels, intelligent charging devices, GaN semiconductors and AI technology to help electric vehicles use energy more efficiently, reduce charging costs and support the electricity grid. Ricardo will work with RAM Innovations to develop a low-cost GaN traction inverter at 50kW and 150kW to match mainstream vehicles in the all-new Nissan LEAF. The programme is part of the UK Government's £4 billion DRIVE35 scheme, delivered by the Department for Business and Trade with the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK and Innovate UK, and is expected to take three years.
GaN technology has evolved to enable higher current capability for high-power traction applications. The power module will be designed, built and integrated into the inverter to take advantage of higher switching frequencies at low losses and lower cost than Silicon Carbide semiconductors, improving system efficiency and reducing inverter cost. The GaN power modules will be tested at the University of Bristol laboratories in line with industry standards. Ricardo will also work with weeteq to incorporate artificial intelligence control and monitoring algorithms into the inverter controller to improve component reliability. The technology is suitable for several applications including high performance automotive, motorsports and defence vehicles.
50kW and 150kWkW
Designed to match mainstream vehicles in the all-new Nissan LEAF.
“Ricardo is a pioneer in the use of GaN semiconductor technology in high-power applications, and this project is the culmination of our R&D efforts over the last five years. This new product will be the first-of-a-kind for next-generation traction inverters that will operate at high efficiency at a reduced cost. We're excited to be part of this consortium that has the potential to be a game changer”
“This project highlights the strength of UK innovation and marks a significant step towards the next generation of integrated energy technologies for electric vehicles. Through close collaboration with industry and academic partners, we are advancing solutions that lower the cost of ownership, improve efficiency and deliver greater value for customers. Together, we are laying the groundwork for fut”
“Collaborative projects demonstrate the UK's determination to lead the shift to zero-emission mobility. By facilitating the UK Government's DRIVE35 grants, we are turning world-class innovation into industrial capability. With our partners in DBT and Innovate UK, we are backing manufacturers, empowering SMEs, and strengthening the UK's sovereign supply chain. This multi-million pound support packag”
Why this matters
For EV buyers, more efficient inverters and integrated solar and charging technology can reduce running costs and charging bills. The project also strengthens the UK's automotive supply chain and jobs, with Nissan, Ricardo and academic partners collaborating on technology that could appear in the next Nissan LEAF.
Terms in This Story
- Traction inverter
- A device that converts DC electricity from a battery into AC to drive an electric motor.
- GaN (Gallium Nitride)
- A semiconductor material that can switch power at high frequencies with low losses, enabling efficient, compact power electronics.
- Silicon Carbide
- A semiconductor material used in power electronics; the project says GaN can offer lower cost.
- DRIVE35
- A UK Government programme backing automotive research and development to support zero-emission mobility.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.