Vishay’s New Inductors: The Unseen Engine of High-Voltage Electrification

MALVERN, PA – June 18, 2026 – In the relentless march toward a more efficient and electrified world, progress is often measured in breakthroughs we can see: sleeker electric vehicles, vast solar arrays, and smarter factories. Yet, the true drivers of these revolutions are frequently microscopic, hidden deep within the circuitry. Today, Vishay Intertechnology unveiled such a driver: a new line of IHDV power inductors that fundamentally redraws the boundaries for high-voltage power design.

While the announcement of a passive electronic component may not command front-page headlines, its implications are profound. Vishay has introduced the first four devices in a series engineered to handle 1.5 kV isolation voltages in compact packages, a significant leap from the 350 V limit of many existing inductors. This development isn't merely an incremental improvement; it's a critical enabler for the next generation of power systems that form the backbone of the green energy transition and the future of mobility.

A New Standard for Power Density and Voltage

The core challenge facing engineers today is a paradox of power: deliver more voltage and more current in smaller, lighter, and more thermally stable packages. This is especially true in the automotive sector, where the industry is rapidly migrating from 400 V to 800 V and even 1000 V architectures. Higher voltages mean faster charging, lower current, and reduced copper losses, but they also demand components that can safely manage extreme electrical stress. Vishay's IHDV series directly confronts this challenge.

By incorporating a PET plastic coilform insulator, these new inductors achieve a 1.5 kV isolation voltage, providing the necessary safety margin for high-voltage applications. This technical feat is housed in remarkably compact surface-mount (20 mm x 14 mm x 14 mm) and through-hole (25 mm x 20 mm x 23 mm) case sizes. This miniaturization allows designers to shrink the footprint of critical systems like on-board chargers and power converters, a key goal in the quest to reduce vehicle weight and increase range.

Beyond just handling high voltage, the IHDV inductors are designed for resilience. Their powdered iron alloy core facilitates a characteristic known as “soft saturation.” In practical terms, this means the inductor maintains stable performance even when hit with sudden, massive in-rush currents—up to five times their rated current. This stability is essential for regulating the ripple current in power supplies, ensuring clean, consistent power delivery whether an EV is accelerating hard or a solar inverter is managing fluctuating grid demand. Furthermore, the ability to operate continuously at up to 180 °C addresses the intense thermal environments found under the hood of modern vehicles and within dense industrial power cabinets.

Powering the Electrified Future: From EVs to the Grid

The true significance of the IHDV line emerges when viewed through the lens of its target applications. The global electric vehicle market, projected to surpass $1.9 trillion by 2032, is the most immediate beneficiary. Each EV contains between 150 and 300 inductors, and as architectures advance, the performance requirements for these components skyrocket. The AEC-Q200 qualification of the automotive-grade IHDV models signifies they have passed the rigorous stress testing required for deployment in these demanding environments.

These components are set to become vital cogs in on-board chargers (OBCs), battery-charging circuits, and power factor correction (PFC) systems that are essential for efficient energy conversion. An often-overlooked but critical function is high-frequency filtering. The new devices deliver impedance up to three times higher than comparable inductors, effectively suppressing electromagnetic interference (EMI) that can disrupt sensitive vehicle electronics. As cars become more connected and autonomous, maintaining signal integrity is paramount.

The impact extends well beyond the automotive sector. The renewable energy industry, which is expected to see its power electronics market grow to over $15 billion by 2031, relies on high-voltage components for solar inverters and grid-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). Efficient and reliable power conversion is the key to integrating intermittent energy sources like solar and wind into the grid, and inductors that can handle high voltages with minimal energy loss are indispensable. Likewise, in industrial automation, where power density and operational efficiency translate directly to cost savings and sustainability, these components enable more compact and robust motor drives and power supplies.

Navigating a Demanding and Competitive Market

Vishay is not operating in a vacuum. The inductor market is a competitive field, with giants like TDK, Murata, and Würth Elektronik all pushing the boundaries of magnetic component technology. Competitors have also introduced products with high isolation voltages, some reaching 2.0 kV for specialized functional safety applications. However, Vishay’s strategic move with the IHDV series lies in its specific combination of high voltage, high-temperature operation, soft saturation, and compact form factor.

This holistic performance package carves out a crucial niche. While one competitor might excel in miniaturization and another in raw voltage isolation, Vishay’s new line offers a balanced solution tailored for the convergence of trends in the automotive and industrial markets. The inclusion of both surface-mount options for high-volume automated manufacturing and rugged through-hole versions with extra support pins for high-shock and vibration environments demonstrates a keen understanding of diverse engineering needs.

By launching these devices, the company reinforces its position as a key supplier of the foundational components—the “DNA of tech,” as its tagline suggests—that underpin large-scale technological shifts. This strategic launch is less about dominating a single specification and more about providing a robust, versatile tool that empowers engineers to build the next generation of high-efficiency, high-voltage systems. These seemingly small components are, in fact, laying the groundwork for a more powerful and sustainable future.