Seoul Semiconductor (046890.KQ), an LED specialist, said Wednesday it has supplied its proprietary "HV (high-voltage) LED" technology, the first of its kind in the world, to four global automakers. The number of vehicle models featuring the technology is expected to grow to 10 by the end of this year.
The HV LED, based on miniaturized LED chips, combines single-chip 12V drive technology with a high-voltage (HV) driver technology. While conventional automotive LED lights operated only at a low voltage of 3V, Seoul Semiconductor enabled operation at higher voltages within a single chip. This reduces the number of driver-related components used in hybrid and electric vehicles by more than 10% and lowers power consumption by approximately 10%.
"Because Seoul Semiconductor's high-voltage LED requires only a slight voltage reduction, conversion losses from electricity leaking in the middle can be significantly reduced," a company official said.
Seoul Semiconductor aims to supply components to all of the world's top 10 automakers by the end of this year, leveraging its world-first high-voltage LED technology. "Global sales of hybrid and electric vehicles surpassed 20 million units this year and will double to 40 million in five years," said Matthew Frasse, Chief Operating Officer of North American Sales at Seoul Semiconductor. "As vehicles become smarter, the value of lighting chips per car will rise from $100 to $200, expanding the entire market fourfold."
