Toshiba to supply inverters for Ford’s HEVs and PHEVs from 2012
21 June 2011
The Ford Motor Company has selected Toshiba Corporation to supply automotive inverters for hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). Ford plans to start mass production of new models of both kinds of vehicle in 2012.
Toshiba already has a June 2010 contract with Ford under which it will supply high-performance drive motors for HEV and PHEV from 2012, from its facility in Houston, Texas. The automotive inverters will be supplied to Ford with the motors as a set.
Toshiba will support Ford with a new inverter production line at its plant in Mie Prefecture, Japan, which has experience in manufacturing for automotive applications. The new line will have a production capacity of 150,000 inverters a year and be ready to start supply in April 2012, following final adjustments to manufacturing equipment and final qualification by Ford.
As the automobile industry moves toward a new generation of environmentally friendly vehicles, including HEV, PHEV and electric vehicles (EV), Toshiba is promoting advances in essential automotive technologies, from dedicated on-board control systems to batteries and Intelligent Traffic Systems.
Toshiba says that its development of key components for HEV, PHEV and EV, including inverters and drive motors, is an essential part of its strategy in growing this promising business.
Toshiba estimates that the global market for inverters for such vehicles will grow from ¥180 billion (US$2.25 billion) in fiscal year 2010 to ¥1.5 trillion (US$18.7 billion) in fiscal year 2020.
Toshiba is targeting fiscal year 2015 net sales of ¥800 billion (US$10 billion) from its power electronics business, including motors, inverters and rechargeable batteries, and is promoting accelerated globalization of the business.
We could make them here from American companies using American workers with automation, but we are not.
Posted by: SJC | 21 June 2011 at 09:52 AM
Most electronics have been imported for many years and it may continue for decades. We have priced ourselves out of that market.
Ideally, Ford could get the entire package (batteries-controller-motors) from a third party supplier to lower initial development cost. Toshiba is a reliable supplier of high quality products and has excellent mass production facilities. Part or most of it could be produced in their USA factories.
Posted by: HarveyD | 21 June 2011 at 10:17 AM
Delphi, Delco and many others have made quality products for decades. We design and make high quality power semiconductors and have designs equal to or better. Companies in the U.S. want that big government contract where they are assured a high price and profit margins.
Posted by: SJC | 21 June 2011 at 10:24 AM
Yes, government (Armed Forces/NASA type) contracts with 100% to 300% profit is preferred to generate enough profit to pay $10M to $100M/year for our manufacturing firms administrators. However, those very same manufacturers cannot really compete (price wise) with Asian firms for most EV parts. Delphi and Delco would both be bankrupt without government give away, tax credits and subsidies.
Posted by: HarveyD | 21 June 2011 at 01:29 PM