Automotive Supplier Partners with Component Maker to Integrate Vertical Toroidal Inductors in Hybrid Vehicles

July 22, 2025 – German automotive supplier Continental AG announced a strategic collaboration with South Korea’s LG Innotek to incorporate vertical toroidal inductors into its hybrid vehicle (HV) power control units (PCUs). The partnership aims to improve HV fuel efficiency by optimizing the PCU’s energy conversion systems.

Continental’s PCUs currently use conventional wire-wound inductors, which occupy 30% more space and generate more heat. “The vertical toroidal inductor’s unique shape lets us redesign the PCU to be 20% smaller,” explained Dr. Thomas Müller, Continental’s head of electrified powertrains. “This not only reduces vehicle weight but also lowers cooling system costs.” LG Innotek will supply a custom-built vertical toroidal inductor with a ferrite core, tailored to Continental’s HV voltage requirements (400V). The first production vehicles with the new PCU are expected to launch in 2026, targeting European and Asian markets.