Ideal Power Announces Collaboration with Third Global Automaker

Rhea-AI Summary

Ideal Power Inc. (Nasdaq: IPWR) announces a collaboration with a third global automaker to evaluate B-TRAN™-enabled contactors for potential use in electric vehicles (EVs). This engagement follows previous collaborations with Stellantis and another Top 10 global automaker. The focus is on replacing electromechanical contactors with solid-state alternatives in EVs.

Key points:

• B-TRAN™ technology offers low conduction losses and bidirectionality, making it suitable for EV contactors
• The high-power EV contactor market is projected to reach $3.7 billion by 2025
• Solid-state contactors provide faster action, improved safety, reliability, and programmable settings
• Potential for solid-state contactors to replace over half of the electromechanical contactor market in EVs

Positive

• Collaboration with a third global automaker for B-TRAN™ evaluation in EVs
• Potential market opportunity in the $3.7 billion high-power EV contactor market by 2025
• B-TRAN™ technology offers advantages in low conduction losses and bidirectionality
• Solid-state contactors could potentially displace over 50% of electromechanical contactors in EVs

Negative

• None.

Insights

Automotive Industry Analyst

This collaboration with a third global automaker marks a significant milestone for Ideal Power, potentially expanding their footprint in the rapidly growing EV market. The focus on B-TRAN™-enabled contactors to replace electromechanical ones is particularly noteworthy.

The projected growth of the high-power EV contactor market to $3.7 billion by 2025 presents a substantial opportunity. If B-TRAN™ technology can capture even a fraction of this market, it could significantly boost Ideal Power's revenue. The potential for solid-state contactors to displace 50% or more of traditional contactors further amplifies this opportunity.

However, investors should note that this is still in the evaluation stage. The transition from collaboration to commercial implementation can be lengthy in the automotive industry and success is not guaranteed. Nonetheless, this engagement, alongside previous ones with Stellantis and another Top 10 automaker, positions Ideal Power favorably in the EV supply chain.

Electrical Engineering Expert

The potential shift from electromechanical to solid-state contactors in EVs represents a significant technological advancement. B-TRAN™'s low conduction losses and inherent bidirectionality make it particularly suited for this application.

Key advantages of solid-state contactors include:

• Faster actuation, eliminating arcing and enhancing safety
• Improved reliability due to absence of physical contacts prone to wear
• Programmable settings for trip and current limits
• Built-in safety diagnostics
• Potential cost savings in EV applications

These benefits could drive rapid adoption if B-TRAN™ proves successful in real-world applications. However, the technology must demonstrate consistent performance and reliability under various conditions to gain widespread acceptance in the conservative automotive industry.

Financial Analyst

While this collaboration is promising, it's important to temper expectations. Ideal Power is still in the early stages of commercialization, with no significant revenue from B-TRAN™ technology yet. The company's financial position will be important to watch as it navigates the capital-intensive process of bringing its technology to market.

Investors should consider:

• Potential timeline for revenue generation from this collaboration
• Ideal Power's cash burn rate and funding needs
• Competitive landscape in solid-state power switches
• Risks associated with technology adoption in the automotive industry

Despite these considerations, the engagement with multiple global automakers validates the potential of B-TRAN™ technology. If successful, it could position Ideal Power as a key player in the EV supply chain, potentially leading to significant long-term value creation for shareholders.

AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ideal Power Inc. (Nasdaq: IPWR) ("Ideal Power," the "Company," "we," "us" or "our"), pioneering the development and commercialization of the highly efficient and broadly patented B-TRAN™ bidirectional semiconductor power switch, today announces the Company is collaborating with a third global automaker. This global automaker is working closely and meeting regularly with Ideal Power engineers on the use of B-TRAN™-enabled contactors to potentially replace electromechanical contactors in its electric vehicles (EVs).

"We are delighted to announce this collaboration with a third global automaker for the evaluation of B-TRAN™ in a new EV application for us. Their initial focus is on EV contactors. Solid-state contactors in EVs are an emerging market and our technology is potentially enabling for this application due to its very low conduction losses and inherent bidirectionality. This represents another engagement for us with the world's leading automakers along with our previously announced engagements with Stellantis and a second Top 10 global automaker," said Dan Brdar, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ideal Power.

Contactors serve as cutoff switches for high voltage applications in EVs. They play a critical role in isolating the battery, inverter, and onboard charger to ensure safety when the vehicle is off or being serviced. Contactors are bidirectional and there are typically 4 to 6 high-power contactors in every EV. The high-power EV contactor market is forecasted to grow to over $3.7 billion in 2025 and the Company believes that, over time, solid-state contactors will potentially displace electromechanical contactors in half or more of this market.

Solid-state contactors provide several benefits over electromechanical contactors. They are much faster acting, thereby eliminating arcing and improving safety, and are more reliable as they do not include physical contacts subject to wear. In addition, they provide programmable settings for trip and current limits as well as built-in safety diagnostics. Solid-state contactors are also expected to cost less than electromechanical contactors in EV applications.

About Ideal Power Inc.

Ideal Power (NASDAQ: IPWR) is pioneering the development and commercialization of its broadly patented bidirectional semiconductor power switch, creating highly efficient and ecofriendly energy control solutions for electric vehicle, electric vehicle charging, renewable energy, energy storage, UPS/data center, solid-state circuit breaker and other industrial and military applications. The Company is focused on its patented Bidirectional, Bipolar Junction Transistor (B-TRAN™) semiconductor technology. B-TRAN™ is a unique double-sided bidirectional AC switch that delivers substantial performance improvements over today's conventional power semiconductors. Ideal Power's B-TRAN™ can reduce conduction and switching losses, complexity of thermal management and operating cost in AC power switching and control circuitry. For more information, visit the Company's website at www.IdealPower.com, on LinkedIn, on Twitter, and on Facebook.

Safe Harbor Statement

All statements in this release that are not based on historical fact are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. While Ideal Power's management has based any forward-looking statements included in this release on its current expectations, the information on which such expectations were based may change. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the high-power EV contactor market being forecasted to grow to over $3.7 billion in 2025 and our belief that, over time, solid-state contactors will potentially displace mechanical contactors in half or more of this market. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of our control that could cause actual results to materially differ from such statements. Such risks, uncertainties, and other factors include, but are not limited to, the success of our B-TRAN™ technology, including whether the patents for our technology provide adequate protection and whether we can be successful in maintaining, enforcing and defending our patents, our inability to predict with precision or certainty the pace and timing of development and commercialization of our B-TRAN™ technology, including the timing of the completion of our wafer fabrication runs with our semiconductor fabrications partners, the rate and degree of market acceptance for our B-TRAN™, the impact of global health pandemics on our business, supply chain disruptions, and the expected performance of future products incorporating our B-TRAN™, and uncertainties set forth in our quarterly, annual and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Furthermore, we operate in a highly competitive and rapidly changing environment where new and unanticipated risks may arise. Accordingly, investors should not place any reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. We disclaim any intention to, and undertake no obligation to, update or revise forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law.

Ideal Power Investor Relations Contact

Jeff Christensen
Darrow Associates Investor Relations
jchristensen@darrowir.com
703-297-6917

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SOURCE IDEAL POWER INC.

FAQ

What is Ideal Power's latest collaboration for B-TRAN™ technology?

Ideal Power is collaborating with a third global automaker to evaluate B-TRAN™-enabled contactors for potential use in electric vehicles (EVs), replacing electromechanical contactors.

How large is the projected market for high-power EV contactors by 2025?

The high-power EV contactor market is forecasted to grow to over $3.7 billion by 2025, according to the press release.

What advantages does B-TRAN™ technology offer for EV contactors?

B-TRAN™ technology offers very low conduction losses and inherent bidirectionality, making it potentially enabling for solid-state contactors in EVs.

How many high-power contactors are typically used in an electric vehicle?

According to the press release, there are typically 4 to 6 high-power contactors in every electric vehicle (EV).