Renault and Vitesco to develop integrated electric vehicle electronics unit

The Renault Scenic Vision concept for a full-electric SUV, above, was shown this year. Renault and Vitesco have entered into a multiyear partnership on power electronics for EVs and hybrid vehicles.

Renault Group has signed an agreement with Vitesco Technologies to develop power electronics for electric vehicles, seeking to reduce the size and weight of control units.

The first all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles using these units will appear after 2026, the companies said when announcing the partnership. The development center will be based in Toulouse, France. No financial terms were announced.

The goal is to develop a single component that combines the DC-DC converter, on-board charger and inverter, which Renault says will be 45 percent smaller than installing the components separately and will also save an unspecified amount of weight.

"We will design and develop a state-of-the-art 'One Box', unique on the market, which will be a real competitive advantage," Renault technical chief Gilles Le Borgne said in a press release.

Under the partnership, Vitesco will also supply power electronics for Renault hybrid vehicles and, from 2025, DC-to-DC converters and chargers for all-electric vehicles.

Vitesco was spun off from Continental in 2021 to focus on electric powertrain components.

Last year, Renault inked a deal with STMicroelectronics to supply power electronics chips for hybrid and electric vehicles.