Diodes (DIOD) Releases Low-Loss Hall Effect Current Sensors for EV Chargers and Charging Stations
Diodes Incorporated has released two automotive-grade Hall effect current sensors, the AHC1724Q and AHC1725Q. They’re aimed at EV onboard chargers and charging stations. Diodes is showing them for the first time at electronica 2026 in Munich this week.
A charger has to measure current constantly to control charging and catch faults. The usual ways to do that either waste power through a shunt resistor or need extra isolation circuitry. These sensors run the current through a copper path with a typical resistance of 1.2 milliohms. A Hall sensor reads the magnetic field from it and outputs an isolated signal, so there’s little heat and no extra isolation amplifier on the board.
Specs
- Measures AC and DC current up to ±50 A, uni-directional or bi-directional versions
- Galvanically isolated, 420 VDC maximum working voltage for basic isolation under UL 62368-1
- AHC1725Q runs from 3.0 to 3.6 V and covers ranges from ±5 A to ±50 A
- SO-8 surface-mount package, operating range of -40°C to +150°C
- Priced at $1.30 (AHC1724Q) and $2.20 (AHC1725Q) in 4,000-piece quantities
Low resistance matters in a charger for two reasons. It cuts wasted power, which adds up over a charger’s working life. It also lets the part ride through high inrush currents when a charge session starts. The small package frees board space in onboard chargers, where every square centimeter is fought over.
Beyond EVs, Diodes lists switched-mode power supplies, load detection, HVAC systems and overcurrent protection as uses.
The bigger picture for Diodes
This is a small part in a large catalog. It fits a broader push. Diodes has been adding parts for EV charging, solar inverters and battery storage, including silicon carbide MOSFETs and isolated gate drivers. The company reported record quarterly revenue on November 5, up 36% from a year earlier.
At $1 to $2 a part, current sensors won’t move the revenue line on their own. What they show is Diodes trying to get designed into more of the power electronics that sit around EVs and the grid.