Transition to Electric Vehicles: Why Is Power Electronics at the Center of the Transformation?
The automotive industry is going through one of the most significant technological transformations in its history. Goals such as fighting climate change, reducing carbon emissions, improving energy efficiency, and lowering dependence on fossil fuels are accelerating the transition to electric vehicles.
However, the electric vehicle transformation is not only about replacing the internal combustion engine with an electric motor. It represents a transition to a completely new vehicle architecture in which the way energy is stored, converted, distributed, and controlled is changing.
Power electronics systems are at the center of this new architecture.
Electric Vehicle Transformation Is No Longer the Future, but the Present
The global electric vehicle market continues to grow rapidly. According to the International Energy Agency, global electric car sales reached 21 million units in 2025. This means that one in every four new cars sold was electric. In 2026, electric car sales are expected to reach 23 million units and account for around 28% of the global car market. (Source: IEA, “Technology: Electric Vehicles – Global Energy Review 2026”; IEA, “Executive Summary – Global EV Outlook 2026”)
- The main factors accelerating the transition to electric vehicles include:
- Reducing carbon and tailpipe emissions,
- Improving air quality in cities,
- Increasing energy efficiency,
- Reducing dependence on fossil fuels,
- Stricter emission standards,
- Developments in battery and charging technologies,
- The growth of software-defined vehicle architectures,
- Integration with renewable energy sources.
Electrification is becoming increasingly important, especially for buses, trucks, and other commercial vehicle platforms. Heavy-duty vehicles account for around 30% of CO2 emissions from road transport in the European Union. Current EU regulations aim to reduce the average CO2 emissions of new heavy-duty vehicles by 45% in 2030, 65% in 2035, and 90% in 2040 compared with the 2019 reference level. (Source: European Commission, “Lorries, Buses and Coaches – CO2 Emission Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles”)
These targets are encouraging vehicle manufacturers and automotive suppliers to develop more efficient electric powertrain systems.
Are Electric Vehicles Really Zero-Emission?
It is important to explain the term “zero emission” correctly when communicating about electric vehicles.
Fully electric vehicles can be described as zero-tailpipe-emission vehicles because they do not produce exhaust gases during use. However, the environmental impact of a vehicle is not limited to the emissions produced while it is being driven.
Battery and vehicle production, raw materials, logistics processes, and the source of the electricity used for charging all affect the total carbon footprint. For this reason, the full life cycle of the vehicle should be considered when comparing electric vehicles with internal combustion engine vehicles.
The environmental benefits of electric vehicles increase further when they are charged with renewable and low-carbon electricity. The long-term goal of electric mobility is not only to remove the exhaust pipe, but also to transform transport, energy production, and the automotive supply chain into a lower-carbon system.
The Connection Between Electrification and the Sustainable Development Goals
Electric mobility supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through both its technical transformation and its environmental and social impacts. Higher efficiency in power electronics systems contributes to more effective energy use, integration with renewable energy sources, and a reduction in the environmental impact of transport.
SDG 13 – Climate Action: Using electric vehicles with low-carbon electricity and reducing energy losses in power electronics systems help lower carbon and greenhouse gas emissions from transport and support the fight against global warming.
SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy: Electrification helps reduce dependence on fossil fuels and supports the growth of charging systems integrated with renewable energy sources and bidirectional energy solutions.
SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities: Wider use of zero-tailpipe-emission electric vehicles in cities helps reduce local air pollutants and vehicle-related noise.
SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production: The sustainability of electric mobility should be considered together with battery life, second-life applications, recycling processes, and circular economy models. (Source: United Nations, “Sustainable Development Goals – Goals 7, 11, 12 and 13”)
The Heart of Electric Vehicles: Power Electronics
In internal combustion engine vehicles, the energy required for movement is produced by burning fuel and transferred to the wheels through mechanical drivetrain components. In electric vehicles, energy is stored as direct current, or DC, in a high-voltage battery.
The energy stored in the battery cannot be used directly by the electric motor and low-voltage electronic systems. It must be converted into different voltage and current forms, distributed safely, and controlled according to the needs of the vehicle.
These tasks are carried out by power electronics systems in electric vehicles.
The main power electronics components in electric vehicles include:
- Traction inverte
- On-board charger,
- DC/DC converter,
- Motor control systems,
- Power distribution and protection units.
These systems do more than convert electrical energy. They play a direct role in motor speed and torque control, charging management, regenerative braking, supplying low-voltage systems, and overall vehicle efficiency.
Traction Inverter: The Control Center of the Electric Motor
The traction inverter converts the DC energy stored in the high-voltage battery into the AC energy required by the electric motor.
The inverter does more than perform DC-to-AC conversion. The traction inverter also precisely controls the speed, torque, and operating characteristics of the electric motor. It ensures that the driver’s acceleration request is converted into motor torque correctly, efficiently, and safely.
During regenerative braking, the direction of energy flow is reversed. The electric motor works as a generator and converts part of the vehicle’s kinetic energy into electrical energy. This energy is transferred back to the battery through the inverter.
As a result, some of the energy that would normally be lost as heat during braking is recovered and contributes to the energy efficiency of the vehicle.
The efficiency, control algorithms, thermal performance, and power density of the inverter directly affect the driving performance, energy consumption, and range of the vehicle.
You can explore Saykal’s traction inverter solution developed for electric vehicle and mobility applications. Saykal’s 15 kW traction inverter has been developed for integration into light electric vehicles, low-speed electric vehicles, and material handling machinery applications. (Source: Saykal, “15 kW Traction Inverter”)
On-Board Charger: The Bridge Between the Vehicle and Charging Infrastructure
The on-board charger converts alternating current from the electricity grid or an AC charging station into the direct current required by the battery.
The OBC also communicates with the charging equipment and helps monitor parameters such as battery voltage, current, temperature, and state of charge. In this way, it supports the controlled and safe management of the charging process.
The following features are important in advanced on-board charger systems:
- High energy conversion efficiency,
- Compact and lightweight design,
- Electrical isolation,
- Current, voltage, and temperature protection,
- Communication between the vehicle and charging station,
- Compatibility with different battery voltages,
- Bidirectional energy transfer.
Bidirectional OBC solutions allow the vehicle to do more than receive energy. In V2L applications, energy from the vehicle battery can be supplied to external devices. In V2G applications, energy can be sent back to the electricity grid through suitable infrastructure.
You can explore Saykal’s 3.3 kW Automotive On-Board Charger, developed for compact electric vehicles and low-speed electric vehicles. (Source: Saykal, “3.3 kW Automotive On-Board Charger”)
The 22 kW Bidirectional On-Board Charger, developed to support 400 V and 800 V battery platforms, provides a solution for bidirectional energy functions such as V2G and V2L. (Source: Saykal, “22 kW Bidirectional On-Board Charger”)
DC/DC Converter: The Connection Between High-Voltage and Auxiliary Systems
While the traction battery of an electric vehicle operates at a high voltage, lighting, infotainment systems, electronic control units, sensors, and other auxiliary systems generally require lower voltage levels such as 12 V or 48 V. (Source: Texas Instruments, “Bidirectional DC-DC Converter Reference Design for 12-V/48-V Automotive Systems”)
The DC/DC converter changes the DC energy from the high-voltage battery into voltage levels that can be used by the vehicle’s low-voltage systems. It also charges the auxiliary battery and ensures a stable power supply for low-voltage systems.
- High efficiency in DC/DC converter systems contributes to:
- Reducing energy losses,
- Limiting heat generation,
- Reducing cooling requirements,
- Enabling a more compact product design,
- Maintaining vehicle range.
You can explore Saykal’s inverter, OBC, and DC/DC converter products in the Power Electronics product group.
Why Is Efficiency Important in Power Electronics?
The energy used in an electric vehicle passes through different conversion stages before it reaches the wheels. Energy losses at each stage affect the overall efficiency and range of the vehicle.
For this reason, the aim of developing power electronics products is not only to convert energy. It is also necessary to:
- Reduce switching and conduction losses,
- Increase power density,
- Reduce product weight and volume,
- Reduce thermal management requirements,
- Ensure electromagnetic compatibility,
- Maintain high-voltage safety,
- Operate reliably under demanding automotive conditions.
At this point, wide-bandgap semiconductor technologies such as Silicon Carbide, or SiC, are becoming increasingly important. SiC-based solutions offer the potential to operate at high voltages and temperatures, reach higher switching frequencies, and reduce energy losses.
These features support the development of more compact, lightweight, and high-power-density inverter, OBC, and DC/DC converter systems.
From Electric Vehicles to the Energy Ecosystem
The next stage of the electric vehicle transformation is to consider vehicles not only as a means of transport, but also as an active part of the energy ecosystem.
With bidirectional energy transfer technologies, electric vehicles can:
- Supply energy to external devices,
- Support electrical systems in homes or workplaces,
- Help balance electricity grid demand,
- Store excess energy produced from renewable energy sources.
These developments show that vehicle manufacturers may develop mobile energy platforms that interact with energy production, storage, and distribution systems, rather than producing only passenger or commercial vehicles.
To create such a system, highly efficient, reliable, and bidirectional power electronics systems are required.
Powering the Future of Electrification with Saykal
At Saykal, we develop innovative solutions for the electric vehicle transformation by using our engineering expertise in automotive electronics and power electronics.
With our traction inverter, on-board charger, and DC/DC converter solutions, we aim to convert energy efficiently, distribute it safely, and control it according to the needs of the vehicle.
At Saykal, we view power electronics not only as a technology that improves vehicle performance and energy conversion, but also as one of the main components of a sustainable mobility approach connected with SDG 7, SDG 11, SDG 12, and SDG 13. With our high-efficiency, compact, and easy-to-integrate solutions, we aim to support lower energy losses, compatibility with clean energy systems, and the development of vehicle architectures with a lower environmental impact.
In our product development approach, we consider the following criteria together:
- High energy conversion efficiency,
- High power density,
- Thermal management,
- Functional safety,
- Vehicle communication systems,
- Compliance with automotive standards,
- Compact and integration-friendly design.
The transition to electric vehicles is not only about using a new motor technology. It is the beginning of a new mobility era in which energy is managed more intelligently, vehicles interact with the electricity grid, and sustainable transport goals are supported by advanced engineering solutions.
Power electronics are at the center of this new era.
Visit the Saykal Power Solutions page to explore our power electronics solutions for electric vehicles.
REFERENCES
- International Energy Agency – Global Energy Review 2026, “Technology: Electric Vehicles”
Link: https://www.iea.org/reports/global-energy-review-2026/technology-electric-vehicles
- International Energy Agency – Global EV Outlook 2026, “Executive Summary”
Link: https://www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2026/executive-summary
- European Commission – “Lorries, Buses and Coaches – CO2 Emission Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles”
- Saykal – “15 kW Traction Inverter”
Link: https://saykal.com/products/15kw-electric-motor-inverter/
- Saykal – “3.3 kW Automotive On-Board Charger”
Link: https://saykal.com/products/3-3kw-micromobility-on-board-charger/
- Saykal – “22 kW Bidirectional On-Board Charger”
Link: https://saykal.com/products/22kw-bidirectional-on-board-charger/
- Texas Instruments – “Bidirectional DC-DC Converter Reference Design for 12-V/48-V Automotive Systems”
Link: https://www.ti.com/tool/TIDA-01168
- United Nations – “Sustainable Development Goals – Goals 7, 11, 12 and 13”
Link: https://sdgs.un.org/goals
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – “Sixth Assessment Report”
Link: https://www.ipcc.ch/assessment-report/ar6/
- U.S. Department of Energy – “Power Electronics Research and Development”
Link: https://www.energy.gov/cmei/vehicles/power-electronics-research-and-development
- Alternative Fuels Data Center – “How Do All-Electric Car
