Forvia Hella, Tau Motors Partner on Next-Gen EV Charger

Lippstadt, Germany- Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA (Forvia Hella)., an automotive supplier and Tau Motors Inc., a pioneer in software-defined power conversion, have entered into a strategic development cooperation to advance next-generation charging solutions for electric vehicles.

The collaboration focuses on the development of a virtually isolated Onboard Charger (viOBC), targeted for series production within the next two to three years. By eliminating the need for a transformer, the viOBC offers higher power density and energy efficiency, while reducing weight and installation space requirements. Additionally, it supports advanced energy management features, including vehicle-to-grid integration and bidirectional charging.

The partnership also includes an investment in Tau Motors through HELLA Ventures, the company’s venture capital arm.

As part of the collaboration, Forvia Hella brings deep expertise in high-voltage and power electronics along with strong industrialization capabilities, while Tau Motors contributes its software-defined technology platform, power electronics know-how, controls expertise, and innovative product design.

Mr. Jörg Weisgerber, Managing Director Electronics at Forvia Hella, said, "We are very pleased with the partnership with Tau and the joint development of this outstanding Onboard Charger with an exceptionally high degree of innovation. The collaboration takes onboard charging to the next level and creates a product that sets new standards in power density. With this, we are also expanding our portfolio of high-performance key components for electrification. viOBCs represent another significant contribution to sustainable mobility and strengthens our position as an innovation leader."

Mr. Wesley Pennington, Founder and CEO of Tau, said, "We’re proud to partner with FORVIA HELLA, a global leader in automotive electronics. This advanced technology partnership brings together Tau’s software-defined power conversion platform and FORVIA HELLA’s global scale in product, quality, and safety. More importantly it aligns groundbreaking technology with industrial excellence to deliver the next generation of high-voltage power electronic and energy management solutions for clean, intelligent mobility."

The virtually isolated Onboard Charger (viOBC) eliminates the need for a transformer, reducing size by up to 50% and weight by about 30%, while achieving power density of 7 kW/l and over 98% efficiency. This design ensures full safety, lowers costs, cuts CO₂ emissions, and is slated for series production within 2–3 years.

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