Power Integrations Rolls Out Reference Design Kit for Solar Race Cars Featuring High-Efficiency Gallium-Nitride IC

DARWIN, Australia & SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 21, 2025--

Power Integrations is rolling out a new reference design kit tailored specifically for solar-powered race cars as 37 student teams prepare to race across the Outback in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge starting August 24.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250821250611/en/

The kit, RDK-85SLR, features the PI™ InnoSwitch™3-AQ IC , which incorporates PI’s PowiGaN™ gallium-nitride switch technology. The kit is inspired by a design created by PI’s PowerPros ℠ online support engineers in collaboration with the ETH Zurich aCentauri team, whose #85 ‘Silvretta’ challenger-class car is using the design to maximize efficiency in its auxiliary power supply.

“Thousands of engineering students participate in solar car challenges around the world each year, and these innovators will help bring about a more sustainable future,” said Andy Smith, director of technical outreach and training for Power Integrations. “We are providing this reference kit to help young engineers take advantage of the latest, most energy-efficient technologies, such as PowiGaN, in their designs.”

The design kit includes everything needed to create a 46-watt power supply that delivers up to 80 watts for short periods—making it ideal for use as an auxiliary power supply in a solar race car. It employs the company’s InnoSwitch3-AQ flyback power supply IC with a highly efficient PowiGaN switch and eliminates the need for a heatsink, enabling more compact, lightweight, and cost-effective designs. Contents of the kit include a sample power supply, four InnoSwitch3-AQ ICs, and an unpopulated PCB. It is backed by a report containing power supply and magnetics transformer build instructions, schematics, a PCB layout guide, a parts list and comprehensive performance data. Live tech support is available from Power Integrations’ PowerPros team.

“We proved PowiGaN’s reliability, performance and efficiency in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge in 2023,” stated Aaron Griesser, lead electrical engineer from the 2023 aCentauri team. “We achieved 95 percent efficiency across both light and full loads with a broad output range of 5 to 60 W. Additionally, the scrutineering judges were astounded to see an auxiliary power supply without a heatsink.”

Power Integrations is a proud sponsor of the aCentauri team and will be reporting on the race from Mr. Green’s Blog and PI’s social media channels using hashtag #PowiGaNVan.

Availability & Resources

Reference design kit RDK-85SLR is priced at $50. Solar race car teams can get the kit free by registering online.

About Power Integrations

Power Integrations, Inc., is a leading innovator in semiconductor technologies for high-voltage power conversion. The company’s products are key building blocks in the clean-power ecosystem, enabling the generation of renewable energy as well as the efficient transmission and consumption of power in applications ranging from milliwatts to megawatts. For more information, please visit www.power.com.

Power Integrations, the Power Integrations logo, PI, PowiGaN, PowerPros and InnoSwitch3-AQ are trademarks, service marks or registered trademarks of Power Integrations, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owner.

RDK-85SLR includes everything needed to create a 46-watt power supply. Solar race car teams can get the kit free by registering online.

JERUSALEM (AP) — An attempt by Israeli authorities to write a routine parking ticket in an ultra-Orthodox neighborhood in Jerusalem turned violent on Thursday as members of the community quickly gathered to protest, attacking and injuring 13 police officers, authorities said.

The violence reflected growing tensions between the Israeli authorities and the ultra-Orthodox, known as Haredim, as the government mulls plans to draft them into the military. Clashes have often broken out recently when Israeli authorities have entered the crowded and insular ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods.

Police said the clashes first broke out after an inspector tried to issue a parking ticket and was met with violence and threats. The police made one arrest. Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox protesters soon arrived, trying to free the suspect, damaging police cars and throwing stones and eggs at the police, they said.

In response, police threw stun grenades, fired water cannons and beat protesters with batons, according to videos circulating on Israeli social media.

Residents accused the police of trying to arrest the man for failing to register for the draft — an accusation police denied.

Five policemen were brought to the hospital and several others were lightly injured. As of Thursday afternoon, police said they had arrested four people and an were investigating several others.

Photos circulating on Israeli social media showed an overturned car and vehicles with broken windshields.

When Israel was founded in 1948, a small number of gifted ultra-Orthodox scholars were granted exemptions from the draft, which is compulsory for most Jews. But with a push from politically powerful religious parties, those numbers have swelled over the decades.

Many secular Israelis — especially those who have served multiple rounds of duty in the latest war between Israel and the Palestinian militant Hamas group in Gaza — now support rolling back that exemption and drafting the ultra-Orthodox.

However, measures to draft the ultra-Orthodox have been met with staunch opposition and at times violence from religious protesters, who claim that serving in the military will destroy their way of life.

Roughly 1.3 million ultra-Orthodox Jews make up about 13% of Israel’s population and oppose enlistment because they believe studying full time in religious seminaries is their most important duty.

Ultra Orthodox protesters clash with Israeli police during a violent disturbance in Jerusalem, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/ Mahmoud Illean)

Israeli police officers work to restore order during a violent disturbance by Ultra-Orthodox Jewish protesters in Jerusalem, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/ Mahmoud Illean)

Israeli police shoot a water canon as they work to restore order during a violent disturbance by Ultra-Orthodox Jewish protesters in Jerusalem, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/ Mahmoud Illean)

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish protesters run for cover from a gas grenade thrown by Israeli police during a violent disturbance in Jerusalem, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

Israeli police officers scuffle with young Ultra-Orthodox Jewish protesters during a violent disturbance in Jerusalem, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)