A new automotive gate driver is redefining 48V mild-hybrid efficiency with configurable channels, built-in protection, and advanced diagnostics—enabling smarter, safer power control for tomorrow’s electrified vehicles.
STMicroelectronics has launched the L98GD8, an automotive-grade 8-channel gate driver designed to optimize efficiency and flexibility in 48V mild-hybrid systems—a growing segment bridging combustion and electric mobility.As carmakers accelerate the shift toward electrified drivetrains, 48V power architectures are becoming the new standard for enhancing vehicle performance and meeting stricter emission norms. These systems power critical components such as integrated starter-generators, e-compressors, pumps, and cooling fans, improving energy recovery and reducing overall vehicle weight.
The key specifications include:
- Automotive-qualified and ready for mass production
- Compact 10mm × 10mm TQFP64 package for space-efficient designs
- Supports the growing 48V power architecture trend in vehicles
- Delivers high configurability, safety, and reliability for hybrid systems
- Designed to power the next generation of efficient, electrified mobility
At the heart of this evolution, the L98GD8 offers eight fully configurable outputs capable of driving NMOS or PMOS FETs in high-side, low-side, or H-bridge configurations. This flexibility allows engineers to handle diverse functions—from DC motor driving to valve control—using a single IC. Operating from supplies up to 58V, the device supports both individual and multi-switch architectures, helping streamline design across different vehicle subsystems.
To ensure system safety and robustness, the company has built in a rich suite of diagnostics and protection features. Each channel includes monitoring for short-circuit, open-load, and ground faults, alongside logic BIST, hardware self-checking voltage supervision, and a communication watchdog timer. Advanced sensing capabilities—such as drain-source voltage monitoring and shunt-based current measurement—further reinforce reliability under demanding automotive conditions.
Noise-sensitive designs benefit from programmable gate current, enabling precise control of switching characteristics to meet stringent EMC compliance standards. For critical applications, an ultrafast overcurrent shutdown mechanism with dual failsafe redundancy adds another layer of protection.
