As the Japanese components manufacturer looks to expand in the electric vehicle market, Apple supplier TDK has teamed up with McLaren Racing in Formula E electric motor racing. The top provider of smartphone batteries worldwide, TDK was formerly well-known to customers for its cassette cassettes. It intends to increase its footprint in the EV supply chain and is expanding its businesses in passive components and sensors.
The Nissan e-4ORCE 05 cars used by McLaren use the company’s technology, and TDK will consider providing parts including sensors and inverters, according to an executive.
In an interview, Taro Ikushima, CEO of TDK’s Electronic Components Business Company, stated, “Formula E technology is always at the cutting edge of EVs and we want them to use our components so we can sharpen our technology.”
Since its founding in 1935, TDK has been a significant provider of components such ceramic capacitors and temperature sensors, with about a quarter of its total sales coming from the automotive industry. Interest in Formula E is rising, even though many fans are still devoted to Formula One because of its distinctive internal combustion engine sound.
Although there is disagreement about how quickly the world will move away from gasoline-powered vehicles, Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda predicts that EVs would account for 30% of the worldwide market at its height.
With plug-in hybrids and battery electric vehicles utilizing 60% and 100% more multilayer ceramic chip capacitors, respectively, than gasoline-powered vehicles, TDK sees potential across the spectrum.