Hillcrest Energy Technologies has signed a technology collaboration agreement with UK drivetrain manufacturer Equipmake to jointly develop an 800-V traction inverter using Hillcrest’s zero voltage switching (ZVS) technology. The inverter is intended for heavy-duty commercial vehicles and off-highway equipment.
Heavy-duty electric vehicles (EVs) operate over long, high-power duty cycles, making inverter efficiency an important factor in battery sizing and operating costs. ZVS reduces switching losses and electrical noise, while lower voltage spikes can reduce filtering requirements and motor insulation stress.
In laboratory testing at automotive OEM and Tier 1 supplier facilities, Hillcrest’s ZVS traction inverter achieved 99.7% peak efficiency.
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing also showed substantially lower electromagnetic interference than conventional inverters. Separately, bench testing reported in a paper accepted for IEEE ECCE 2026 demonstrated a reduction of more than 90% in motor-terminal voltage overshoot.
The companies will use these findings to guide development and validation of the 800-V inverter for heavy-duty applications.
The milestone-based program will begin once the companies finalize technical specifications and a resource plan, expected within six months. Development will proceed through two prototype stages, each with defined performance requirements.
If the final inverter meets the agreed acceptance criteria, Equipmake will receive exclusive manufacturing and sales rights within the defined heavy-duty markets. These rights will initially extend for six years after prototype acceptance, subject to minimum annual sales targets.
Hillcrest will retain ownership of its ZVS technology and related improvements. Passenger vehicles are excluded from the agreement.
Filed Under: Inverter, Power Electronics, Technology News