Finding
The onboard charger sizes to each region's grid connection, and the market is shifting to SiC devices, integration with the DC-DC converter and bidirectional power
The OBC rectifies AC from a Level 1 or Level 2 charger, corrects power factor and steps it through an isolated DC-DC stage into the battery. DC fast charging bypasses it, but home and workplace AC charging supply most EV energy in the US, Europe and China. Rating follows the grid: about 7 kW single-phase in China, 11 kW three-phase in Europe and 11.5 kW at 48 A on US Level 2.
Chinese automakers buy most OBCs from domestic suppliers - Shinry, VMAX, Inovance and BYD's in-house FinDreams - and many fold the OBC and DC-DC converter into one unit or into the e-axle. European automakers often source modular 11 kW or 22 kW units from Tier 1s such as Valeo, Schaeffler (Vitesco), BorgWarner and Kostal; Hyundai Mobis, LG Magna and Lear supply Korean and US platforms. Tesla and GM design their own.
Bidirectional OBCs let the car power a home or the grid on AC. Tesla Cybertruck (Powershare), GM Ultium trucks and Hyundai and Kia vehicles with vehicle-to-load already ship with them. See V2X Bidirectional Charging and EV Charging Standards.
Power classes
OBC Power Classes
Higher ratings only help if the home or depot circuit can supply them.
| Class | Grid connection | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 3.3 kW | Single-phase, 16 A | Entry and older EVs |
| 6.6-7.4 kW | Single-phase, 32 A | Mainstream EVs in China and single-phase markets |
| 11 kW | Three-phase, 16 A, 400 V | Standard in Europe |
| 11.5 kW | US Level 2, 48 A at 240 V | Tesla, GM and most US EVs |
| 19.2 kW | US Level 2, 80 A at 240 V (SAE J1772, J3400 limit) | Lucid Air and some trucks and fleets |
| 22 kW | Three-phase, 32 A, 400 V | Premium European EVs, fleets |
Components
OBC Component Stack
Magnetics and capacitors are as often the constraint as the semiconductors.
| Component | Role | Suppliers |
|---|---|---|
| Power semiconductors | PFC and DC-DC switching | SiC: Wolfspeed, Infineon, ST, Rohm, onsemi, BYD Semiconductor; GaN: Infineon, Navitas, Innoscience |
| Magnetics | High-frequency transformer, PFC inductors, EMI chokes | TDK, Sumida, Sunlord; mostly made in Asia |
| Capacitors | DC-link and filter film capacitors | TDK, Vishay, Kemet, Panasonic, Faratronic |
| Control | MCU, sensing, BMS and charger communication | Infineon, NXP, Texas Instruments, Renesas |
| Housing and cooling | Cold plate shared with the inverter or DC-DC | Tier 1 integrators |
Makers
OBC manufacturers
Automakers with in-house chargers, then the suppliers. Active companies first, then merged, acquired, exited and bankrupt ones; each company appears once per product line.
| Company | Products | HQ | Plants | Technology | Customers | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BYD (FinDreams Powertrain) | OBC inside the 8-in-1 e-drive; vehicle-to-load | China | China | In-house SiC | BYD, Denza, Yangwang, Fangchengbao | active |
| Lucid | Wunderbox: bidirectional OBC and DC-DC | US | US | SiC; 19.2 kW AC | Lucid Air, Lucid Gravity | active |
| Tesla | 11.5 kW AC charging (48 A) in the power conversion system | US | US, China | Silicon and SiC | Tesla | active |
| Company | Products | HQ | Plants | Technology | Customers | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Electronics | Onboard chargers | Taiwan | Taiwan, China, Thailand | SiC and GaN | Not disclosed | active |
| Huawei Digital Power | OBC in the power domain module | China | China | SiC and GaN | Seres (AITO), Chery (Luxeed) | active |
| Hyundai Mobis | ICCU: 11 kW OBC with vehicle-to-load | South Korea | South Korea | Silicon and SiC | Hyundai, Kia, Genesis | active |
| Kostal | Onboard chargers, 11 kW and 22 kW | Germany | Germany, China | Silicon and SiC | Not disclosed | active |
| Lear | Onboard chargers | US | US, Mexico, Europe | Silicon and SiC | GM (Chevrolet Volt, earlier) | active |
| LG Magna e-Powertrain | Onboard chargers | South Korea | South Korea, China | Silicon | GM (Chevrolet Bolt EV) | active |
| Shinry Technologies | Onboard chargers and combined OBC and DC-DC | China | China | Silicon and SiC | Not disclosed | active |
| Toyota Industries | Onboard chargers | Japan | Japan | Silicon | Toyota | active |
| Valeo | Onboard chargers, including bidirectional | France | France, China | SiC | Not disclosed | active |
| VMAX | OBC and 3-in-1 power domain units; largest independent OBC supplier in China | China | China | SiC; 6.6 kW and 11 kW | Li Auto, Leapmotor, Chery, Geely | active |
Risks
OBC Supply Constraints
Most are shared with the inverter and DC-DC converter.
| Constraint | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| SiC devices | Supply now ample as Chinese substrate capacity grew; qualification still ties each OBC to specific devices |
| Magnetics | Few high-frequency transformer makers outside Asia |
| Film capacitors | High-temperature DC-link film capacity is limited |
| HV isolation testing | End-of-line test throughput at Tier 1 plants |
| Regional sourcing | Most magnetics and passives come from China, so tariffs and local-content rules reach the OBC |
Sources
Sources and scope
- Scope
- EV Onboard Chargers
- Sources
- SAE J1772 and J3400; supplier and automaker disclosures; ElectronsX electrical dataset
- Updated
- October 2026