Q2 2024 Ideal Power Inc Earnings Call
Speaker Change: Unknown Attendee, Jeff Christensen, Unknown Attendee, Jeff Christensen, Unknown Attendee,
Operator: Brian Dobson, David Burns, Unknown Attendee, Ideal Power Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Ideal Power second quarter 2024 results call. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode.
Speaker Change: yes
Speaker Change: Good morning ladies and gentlemen and welcome to the Ideal Power second quarter 2024 results call. At this time all participants are in a listen-only mode. At the end of management's remarks there will be a question and answer session.
Operator: At the end of management's remarks, there will be a question and answer session. However, investors can submit their questions at any time during the meeting webcast by typing them into the Q&A button on the left side of their viewing screen. Analysts who publish research may ask questions on the phone. For analysts to ask questions on the phone line, please press star one on your phone and keep it at any time. As a reminder, this event is being recorded. I would now like to turn the conference over to Jeff Christensen. Please go ahead.
Speaker Change: Investors can submit their questions anytime within the meeting webcast by typing them into the Q&A button on the left side of your viewing screen.
Speaker Change: Analysts who publish research may ask questions on the phone line. For analysts to ask questions on the phone line, please press star 1 on your phone keypad at any time.
Speaker Change: As a reminder, this event is being recorded. I would now like to turn the conference over to Jeff Christensen. Please go ahead.
Jeff Christensen: Thank you, operator, and good morning everyone. Thank you for joining Ideal Power for a second quarter, 2024 conference call. With me on the call today are Dan Brunard, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Tim Burns, Chief Financial Officer. Ideal Power's second quarter, 24 financial results, and press release is available on the company's website at idealpower.com. Before we begin, I'd like to remind everyone that statements made on the call and webcast, including those regarding future financial results and the company's prospects, are forward-looking and may be subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the call. Please refer to the company's SEC filings for a list of associated risks.
Jeff Christensen: Thank you, operator. And good morning, everyone. Thank you for joining Ideal Power's second quarter 2024 conference call.
Jeff Christensen: With me on the call today are Dan Bernard, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Tim Burns, Chief Financial Officer. Ideal Power's second quarter 2024 financial results press release is available on the company's website at idealpower.com.
Speaker Change: Before we begin, I'd like to remind everyone that statements made on the call and webcast, including those regarding future financial results and companies' prospects, are forward-looking and may be subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the call.
Speaker Change: Please refer to the company's SEC filings for a list of the associated risks.
Speaker Change: And we would also refer you to the company's website for more supporting company information.
Jeff Christensen: And we would also refer you to the company's website for more supporting company information. Now, I would like to turn the call over to Ideal Power's President and CEO, Dan Berdard. Dan?
Speaker Change: Now I'd like to turn the call over to Ideal Power's President and CEO, Dan Berdar. Dan?
Dan Berdard: Thank you, Jeff. And thanks, everyone, for joining us today on our second quarter conference call. I'm excited to update you today on our progress since the start of the second quarter, as we've accomplished a couple of our key milestones for the year and made significant progress with several key customers. Then I'll turn things over to Tim Burns to discuss our financial results.
Dan Berdar: Thank you, Jeff, and thanks everyone for joining us today on our second quarter conference call. I'm excited to update you today on our progress since the start of the second quarter as we've accomplished a couple of our key milestones for the year and made significant progress with several key customers.
Dan Berdard: We'll be pleased to answer your questions after our remarks. I'm delighted to report on a number of new developments at Ideal Power. I'll cover the key highlights briefly, then discuss them in a little bit more depth and provide context for their importance. First, we are collaborating with our third global automaker, along with our previously announced engagements with Lampus and a second top 10 global automaker. Second, we announced a global distribution agreement with a second distributor that is particularly strong in Asia. This distributor is already placing orders with us.
Dan Berdar: Then I'll turn things over to Tim Burns to discuss our financial results. We'll be pleased to answer your questions after our remarks.
Dan Berdard: Adding distributors and channels to the market is one of our key 2024 milestones. Third, we qualified a second fabricator with high volume production capability. This is also one of our 2024 milestones.
Speaker Change: I'm delighted to report that on a number of new developments at Ideal Power. I'll cover the key highlights briefly, then discuss them in a little bit more depth and provide context for their importance.
Speaker Change: First, we are collaborating with our third global automaker, along with our previously announced engagements with Stellantis, and a second top ten global automaker.
Speaker Change: Second, we announced a global distribution agreement with a second distributor that is particularly strong in Asia. This distributor is already placing orders with us. Adding distributors and channels to market is one of our key 2024 milestones.
Speaker Change: Third, we qualified a second wafer fabrication supplier with high-volume production capability. This is also one of our 2024 milestones.
Dan Berdard: Fourth, we secured orders for B-Tran devices and circuit breaker evaluation boards from a global leader in power semiconductor and power electronic solutions. Fifth, we secured an order for B-Tran devices for evaluation and solar inverter applications from a top 10 global provider of power conversion solutions to the solar industry. This company was a participant in the B-Tran Test and Evaluation Program.
Speaker Change: Fourth, we secured orders for BTRAN devices and circuit breaker evaluation boards from a global leader in power semiconductor and power electronic solutions.
Speaker Change: Fifth, we secured an order for B-Tran devices for evaluation in solar and inverter applications from a top 10 global provider of power conversion solutions to the solar industry. This company was a participant in the B-Tran Test and evaluation program.
Dan Berdard: Sixth, we secured an order for simple power modules and drivers from a Forbes Global 500 power management market leader that also participated in our B-Tran test and evaluation program. Seventh, we added a global leader in circuit protection, industrial fuses, and power conversion technology with over a billion dollars in annual sales to the roster of our test and evaluation program, and eight, based on the results of testing, we increased the current rating of our simple power module by 2025 by 25%. When combined with an approximate 50% size reduction we recently implemented, we dramatically increase the simple module's power density.
Speaker Change: 6th, we secured an order for simple power modules and drivers from a Forbes Global 500 Power Management Market Leader that also participated in our D-Trans Test and Evaluation Program.
Speaker Change: Seventh, we added a global leader in circuit protection, industrial fuses, and power conversion technology with over a billion dollars in annual sales to the roster of our test and evaluation program.
Speaker Change: And eighth, based on the results of testing, we increased the current rating of our SimCool power module by 25%. When combined with an approximate 50% size reduction we recently implemented, we dramatically increased the SimCool module's power density.
Dan Berdard: Looking first at the automotive market, we continue to leverage the work we're doing with Stellantis to attract other auto OEMs and to evaluate B-Tram for their next generation electric and hybrid vehicle platform. This quarter, we added a third global automaker to our list of customers engaged. After learning more about our technology and products, our team realized the potential benefit of DETRAN in several locations in the EV drivetrain, although their initial focus is on EV contact.
Speaker Change: Looking first at the automotive market, we continue to leverage the work we're doing with Stellantis to attract other auto OEMs and to evaluate B-Tram for their next generation electric and hybrid vehicle platforms.
Speaker Change: This quarter, we added a third global automaker to our list of customer engagements.
Speaker Change: After learning more about our technology and products, their team realized the potential benefit of D-TRAN in several locations in the EV drivetrain. Their initial focus is on EV contactors.
Dan Berdard: This global automaker's engineering team is working closely and meeting regularly with our engineers on the use of B-Train-enabled contactors to potentially replace electromechanical contactors across its EV platform. Contactors serve as cutoff switches for high power applications and EVs. They play a critical role in isolating the battery, inverter, and high-speed charging system to ensure safety when the vehicle is off or being serviced. Contactors are bidirectional, and there are typically four to six high-power contactors in every EV.
Speaker Change: This global automaker's engineering team is working closely and meeting regularly with our engineers on the use of B-Train-enabled contactors to potentially replace electromechanical contactors across its EV platform.
Speaker Change: Contactors serve as cutoff switches for high-power applications and EVs. They play a critical role in isolating the battery, inverter, and high-speed charging system to ensure safety when the vehicle is off or being serviced.
Speaker Change: Contactors are bi-directional and there are typically four to six high-power contactors in every EV.
Dan Berdard: In the assessment of the automotive OEM, the bi-directional nature, ability to accommodate higher voltage DC platforms, fast speed, and low conduction losses of V-Tran make a solid state contactor a good first use case for their EV. Solid State Contactors and EVs are an emerging market, and our technology is potentially enabling for this application due to its very low conduction losses and inherent bidirectionality.
Speaker Change: In the assessment of the automotive OEM, the bi-directional nature, ability to accommodate higher voltage DC platforms, fast speed, and low conduction losses of V-Tran make a solid state contactor a good first use case for their EVs.
Speaker Change: Solid State Contactors and EVs are an emerging market and our technology is potentially enabling for this application due to its very low conduction losses and inherent bidirectionality.
Dan Berdard: The high-power EV contactor market is forecasted to grow to over $3.7 billion in 2025. We believe that over time, solid-state contactors will potentially displace electromechanical contactors in half or more of this market. This market is additive to the serviceable addressable market for BTRAN that we've shared with you previously. We're excited to add another global automotive OEM and look forward to expanding our collaboration with them. Turning to Stellantis, as many of you know, we successfully completed Phase 2 of our program with them a few months ago, and we are eagerly waiting to begin Phase 3.
Speaker Change: A high-power EV contactor market is forecasted to grow to over $3.7 billion in 2025. We believe that over time, solid-state contactors will potentially displace electromechanical contactors in half or more of this market.
Speaker Change: This market is additive to the serviceable addressable market for BTRAN that we've shared with you previously. We're excited to add another global automotive OEM and look forward to expanding our collaboration with them.
Speaker Change: Turning to Stellantis, as many of you know, we successfully completed phase 2 of our program with them a few months ago and eagerly waiting to begin phase 3. What's been happening in the meantime is we continue to meet with their team weekly while they developed and sent out the drivetrain inverter solicitation to roughly a half a dozen Tier 1 suppliers.
Dan Berdard: What's been happening in the meantime is we continue to meet with their team weekly while they develop and send out the drivetrain inverter solicitation to roughly a half a dozen Tier 1 suppliers. The Tier 1 suppliers were asked to provide their proposals to supply the D-Tran based drive train inverter. The Lannis introduced our team to the Tier One suppliers we were not already working with, so we could bring them up to speed on the technology, our products, the unique configuration that we developed for the application, and the corresponding test data that demonstrated we provided better performance compared to other silicon and silicon carbonite solutions.
Speaker Change: The Tier 1 suppliers were asked to provide their proposals to supply the D-TRAN based drivetrain inverter.
Speaker Change: The land has introduced our team to the two-one suppliers we were not already working with so we could bring them up to speed on the technology, our products, the unique configuration that we developed for the application, and of course, wanting to test data that demonstrated we provide better performance compared to other silicon and silicon carbide solutions.
Dan Berdard: The Tier 1 Inverter proposals have been submitted, and Stellantis is in the process of reviewing the proposals and will down-select one or two Tier 1 suppliers to design and build the drivetrain inverter for their new EV platform. In a parallel effort, Stellantis is working with us at a large semiconductor company with expertise in driver control circuitry for the B-Tran inverter driver. After the Tier 1 Inverter supplier is selected by Stellantis, we expect to start Phase 3, working with the Tier 1 suppliers and Stellantis' team, with the objective of developing a production-ready V-Tran Power Module for use in their EV drivetrain. Completion of the V-Tran Module is still targeted for 2025.
Stylantus: The Tier 1 inverter proposals have been submitted, and Stylantus is in the process of reviewing the proposals, and will down select the one or two Tier 1 suppliers to design and build the drive train inverter for their EV platform.
Speaker Change: In a parallel effort, Solantus is working with us and a large semiconductor company with expertise in driver control circuitry for the B-Trainian-Burder drivers.
Speaker Change: After the Tier 1 Inverter Supplier is selected by Stellantis, we expect to start Phase 3, working with the Tier 1 Suppliers and Stellantis' team, with the objective of developing a production-ready V-Tran power module for use in their EV drivetrain.
Dan Berdard: While their focus continues to be on a custom B-Train power module for use in the EV drivetrain platform, they also continue to express interest in B-Train for battery circuit protection as well. Turning to the previously announced top 10 global automakers in our test and evaluation program, we've been able to share the unique V-Tran configuration we developed for EV drivetrain inverters with them, as well as the test data we generated under the Stellantis program.
Speaker Change: Completion of the B-TRAN module is still targeted for 2025. While their focus continues to be on a custom B-TRAN power module for use in the EV drivetrain platform, they also continue to express interest in B-TRAN for battery circuit protection as well.
Speaker Change: Turning to the previously announced Top 10 Global Automaker in our test and evaluation program, we've been able to share the unique V-Train configuration we developed for EV drivetrain inverters with them, as well as the test data we generated under the Cilantis program.
Dan Berdard: Since we're not constrained under our arrangement with Stellantis, we're using the design work and test data to attract other automotive OEMs and Tier 1s to explore and adopt V-Tran for their next generation vehicle. As a result of the test data we provided, a top 10 automaker is moving forward and is expected to order hardware for testing by their design team. We're also introducing them to the concept of B-Train enabled EV contactors. This gives us two opportunities for this automaker that could evolve into a formal program.
Speaker Change: Since we're not constrained under our arrangement with Stellantis, we're using the design work and test data to attract other automotive OEMs and Tier 1s to explore and adopt V-TRAN for their next generation vehicles.
Speaker Change: As a result of the test data we provided, the Top 10 automaker is moving forward and expected to order hardware for testing by their design team. We're also introducing them to the concept of vTrain-enabled EV contactors. This gives us two opportunities for this automaker that could evolve into formal programs.
Dan Berdard: Let's discuss industrial markets as they are expected to be the early source of our product sales and revenue. We secured orders for veteran devices and circuit breaker evaluation boards from a global leader in power semiconductor and power electronic solutions in connection with its launch of a multi-year DC power distribution system program. This opportunity was introduced to us through our new distributor relationship with RIO Show. The company presents multiple opportunities for us as it addresses several of our target industrial markets. Solid-state circuit breakers for industrial facilities and electric utilities, grid infrastructure, and renewable energy.
Speaker Change: Now let's discuss industrial markets, as they are expected to be the early source of our product sales and revenue.
Speaker Change: We secured orders for B-TRAN devices and circuit breaker evaluation boards from a global leader in power semiconductor and power electronic solutions in connection with its launch of a multi-year DC power distribution system program.
Speaker Change: This opportunity was introduced to us through our new distributor relationship with Rio Show. The company presents multiple opportunities for us as it addresses several of our target industrial markets.
Speaker Change: Solid State Circuit Breakers for Industrial Facilities and Electric Utility, Grid Infrastructure, and Renewable Energy.
Speaker Change: For solid-state circuit breaker applications, our B-TRAN technology has clear advantages, providing dramatically lower conduction losses, lower costs, and bidirectionality compared to electromechanical breakers and IGBT and silicon carbide MOSFET-based solid-state circuit breakers.
Speaker Change: Also during the quarter, we secured an order for beach and products for evaluation and solar and further applications from a top 10 global provider of power conversion solutions to the solar industry.
Speaker Change: This customer is previously, was a previously announced participant in our BTRAN test and evaluation program and is one of several who are advancing from that program to beginning to order products from us as part of their application specific development work.
Dan Berdard: While moving through the test and evaluation program with these large companies takes time, we're excited to see many of them taking that next step with us and beginning ordering commercial products in small quantities. We're also pleased that we've not had any companies drop out of the program. We also secured an order for SimCool power modules and drivers from a Forbes Global 500 power management market leader that was also a participant in our test and evaluation program. This global power management market leader is evaluating SimCool against IGBT modules for use in solid-state circuit breaker applications. Discustomer's Order for Simple Power Models follows their testing of the Screet Detran device.
Speaker Change: While moving through the test in evaluation program with these large companies takes time, we're excited to see many of them taking that next step with us and begin ordering commercial products and small quantities. We're also pleased that we've not had any companies drop out of the test in evaluation program.
Speaker Change: We also secured an order for Simcool Power Modules and Drivers from a Forbes Global 500 Power Management Market Leader that was also a participant in our Test and Evaluation Program.
Speaker Change: This global power management market leader is evaluating sim cool against IDBT modules for use in solid state circuit breaker applications.
Speaker Change: This custom was ordered for simple power models, follows their testing of discrete decrant devices.
Dan Berdard: In response to this customer's request, Ideal Power provided high-volume quotes for SimCool power modules so that this customer could also evaluate our technology for other power conversion applications. Also, we're very pleased that multiple customers in our test and evaluation program are advancing to initial orders with us. We also added a global leader in circuit protection and industrial markets with over a billion dollars in annual sales to the roster of the D-Tran Test and Evaluation Program.
Speaker Change: In response to this customer's request, Ideal Power provided high-volume quotes for SimCool power modules. This customer may also evaluate our technology for other power conversion applications.
Speaker Change: Also, we're very pleased that multiple customers in our test and evaluation program are advancing to initial orders with us.
Speaker Change: We also added a global leader in circuit protection in industrial markets with over a billion dollars in annual sales to the roster of the B-transtest and evaluation program.
Dan Berdard: This global supplier presents multiple opportunities for us as they address several of our target industrial markets, including industrial fuses, renewable energy and energy storage power conversion, rail transportation, and EV power management. As part of our effort to expand our geographic and application diversification, we added a second global distributor, RioShow, a subsidiary of Rioden Corporation. Riordan is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and has almost 2 billion in annual sales. They have 21 international sites, including Rio Show USA.
Speaker Change: This global supplier presents multiple opportunities for us as they address several of our target industrial markets, including industrial fuses, renewable energy, and energy storage power conversion, rail transportation, and EV power management.
Speaker Change: As part of our effort to expand our geographic and application diversification, we added a second global distributor, RioShow, a subsidiary of Riodan Corporation.
Speaker Change: Reodin is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and has almost 2 billion in annual sales.
Speaker Change: They have 21 international sites, including Rio Show USA.
Dan Berdard: The show is focused on the sale of semiconductors and other electronic components. This distributor had already placed orders with us from a large global customer in Asia interested in the company's products for solid state circuit protection applications. This is a significant development in the commercialization of our B-Tran technology. As a small company, we cannot efficiently reach the large global customer base for our products on our own. By leveraging the large investment in semiconductor sales and distribution networks, we can reach many customers. It would be difficult for us to engage or educate them about our products and technology.
Speaker Change: The show is focused on the sale of semiconductors and other electronic components. This distributor already placed orders with us from a large global customer in Asia interested in the company's products for solid state circuit protection applications.
Speaker Change: This is a significant development in the commercialization of our B-trans technology.
Speaker Change: As a small company, we cannot efficiently reach the large global customer base for our products on our own. By leveraging the large investment in semiconductor sales and distribution networks, we can reach many customers. It would be difficult to us engage or educate about our products and technology.
Dan Berdard: Like Richardson Electronics, Rio Show has a strong technical sales team with expertise in generating demand and securing orders for new products and technologies. It also has a global customer base. Their sales focus is particularly strong in Asia, which complements Richardson's geographic strength. [inaudible] We look forward to collaborating with Riosho to secure additional orders, particularly in the Asian markets where they have an extensive customer base. Adding distributors for our products is one of our key milestones for this year, and we'll likely add others in the coming quarters to adjust to address geographies or customer segments not covered well by our existing distributors
Richardson Electronics: Like Richardson Electronics, Rio show has a strong technical sales team with expertise in generating demand and securing orders for new products and technologies. It has a global customer base.
Speaker Change: Their sales focus is particularly strong in Asia, which complements Richardson's geographic strength.
Speaker Change: We look forward to collaborating with Ryosho to secure additional orders, particularly in the Asian markets where they have an extensive customer base.
Speaker Change: and distributors for our products is one of our key milestones for this year, and we'll likely add others in the coming quarters to address geographies or customer segments not covered well by existing distributors.
Dan Berdard: Another key milestone we completed in the quarter was the qualification of a second wafer fabrication supplier with high volume production capability. This facility in Europe, along with a previously qualified wafer fabricator in Asia, adds dual sourcing for wafer fabrication, geographic diversity to our supply chain, and will support future revenue growth, providing ample capacity to support and anticipate customer demand over the next several years. This fab successfully completed a multi-wafer, full-process flow engineering run of double-sided V-tran wafers. By leveraging our proprietary proven process flow, this foundry was able to produce functional bi-directional devices on their initial run without the need for special equipment or capital investment.
Speaker Change: Another key milestone we completed in the quarter was the qualification of a second wafer fabrication supplier with high volume production capability.
Speaker Change: This facility in Europe , along with our previously qualified wafer fabricator in Asia, adds dual sourcing for wafer fabrication, geographic diversity to our supply chain, and will support future revenue growth, providing ample capacity to support anticipated customer demand over the next several years.
Speaker Change: This fab successfully completed a multi-wafer full-process glow engineering run of double-sided B-tran wafers.
Speaker Change: By leveraging our proprietary proven process flow, this foundry was able to produce functional bidirectional devices on their initial run without the need for special equipment or capital investment.
Dan Berdard: Initial devices from this run have already been packaged by our Packaging Partners and successfully tested in our lab. This fab has demonstrated expertise in the commercial manufacturing of high-power bipolar devices such as IGBTs. It is a qualified manufacturer of semiconductor wafers for multiple tier one automotive suppliers. This will help Ideal Power to attract and engage prospective automotive OEMs and Tier One suppliers as customers since the fab is ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified to globally recognized standards for quality and environmental management systems.
Speaker Change: Initial devices from this run have already been packaged by our packaging partners and successfully tested in our lab.
Speaker Change: This fab has demonstrated expertise in commercial manufacturing of high-power bipolar devices such as IGBTs.
Speaker Change: It's a qualified manufacturer of semiconductor wafers to multiple Tier 1 automotive suppliers.
Speaker Change: This will help Ideal Power to attract and engage prospective automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers as customers since the fab is ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified to globally recognized standards for quality and environmental management systems.
Dan Berdard: Our dual sourcing for wafer fabrication in disparate geographies has no exposure to China or Taiwan to mitigate supply chain risk. Turning to product development, based on the results of testing, we confirmed that our initial product ratings are quite conservative, and our device design is very capable of providing high performance and handling the current and voltage ratings required for our target applications. For example, our discrete device is currently rated at 50 amps and has been tested for a long duration basis at 150 amps without failure or any loss of performance.
Speaker Change: Our dual sourcing for wafer fabrication in disparate geographies has no exposure to China or Taiwan to mitigate supply chain risk.
Speaker Change: Turning to product development. Based on the results of testing, we confirmed that our initial product ratings are quite conservative and our device design is very capable of providing high performance and handling the current and voltage ratings required for our target applications.
Speaker Change: For example, our discrete device is currently rated at 50 amps and has been tested on a long duration basis at 150 amps without failure or any loss of performance.
Dan Berdard: As a result of our test data, we are modestly increasing the current rating of our SimCool power module by 25% from 160 amps to 200 amps. While we feel this is still a conservative rating, the customer feedback we've received from our test data reflects our comfort level in making this change. Along with the rating increase, we also implemented a reduction in the physical size of our power module of approximately 50%. This combination dramatically increases the power density of the SIMQO Power Module, which allows customers to use less space in their OEM products to accommodate the semiconductor devices, which helps them lower costs while improving efficiency and overall performance. As part of our cost reduction initiatives, we're also planning on reducing the cell size of our B-Tran dye.
Speaker Change: As a result of our test data, we are modestly increasing the current rating of our SimCool power module by 25% from 160 amps to 200 amps.
Speaker Change: While we feel this is still a conservative rating, the customer feedback we've received from our test data reflects our comfort level in making this change.
Speaker Change: Along with the rating increase, we also implemented a reduction in the physical size of our power module of approximately 50%.
Speaker Change: This combination dramatically increases the power density of the SimCool power module, which allows customers to use less space in their OEM products to accommodate the semiconductor devices, which helps them lower cost while improving efficiency and overall performance.
Speaker Change: As part of our cost reduction initiatives, we're also planning on reducing the cell size of our B-Tran dye.
Dan Berdard: This will allow us to double the number of dies per wafer, which effectively doubles the number of dies per year that our wafer fabrication partners can produce, significantly expanding our available capacity for our large volume target customers such as automakers. This will allow us to double the number of dies per year that our wafer fabrication partners can produce significantly. Also, since wafer processing cost is on a per wafer basis, it involves a significant cost reduction for our products as we scale up production. We recently began our first engineering run of this second generation B-Trend Dive Design. While it will take us a few runs to incorporate and finalize any learning from this effort, no significant process changes are expected.
Speaker Change: This will allow us to double the number of dyes per wafer, which effectively doubles the number of dyes per year that our wafer fabrication partners can produce, significantly expanding our available capacity for our large volume target customers, such as automakers.
Speaker Change: Also, since wafer processing cost is on a per wafer basis, it embodies a significant cost reduction for our products as we scale up production.
Speaker Change: We recently began our first engineering run of this second generation B-Tran dive design. While it will take us a few runs to incorporate and finalize any learning from this effort, no significant process changes are expected.
Dan Berdard: Also, in the third quarter, we expect to begin the wafer runs we'll use for third-party reliability testing and automotive qualification. This tends to be a lengthy process due to the time it takes to complete thousands of power cycles and all the other testing required to meet automotive standards. Completing this process will also help us with industrial customers. Since automotive standards are the most stringent testing requirements, the acceptance of new technology by large industrial customers as well as automotive OEMs and tier one suppliers definitely benefits from being able to share the third-party reliability and qualification data with prospective customers.
Speaker Change: Also, in the third quarter, we expect to begin the wafer runs we'll use for third-party reliability testing and automotive qualification.
Speaker Change: This tends to be a lengthy process due to the time it takes to complete thousands of power cycles and all the other testing required to meet automotive standards.
Speaker Change: Completing this process will also help us with industrial customers.
Speaker Change: Since automotive standards are the most stringent testing requirements, the acceptance of a new technology with a large industrial customers, as well as automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers definitely benefits from being able to share the third-party reliability and qualification data with prospective customers.
Dan Berdard: We're not aware of any competing inherently bi-directional high power technologies that are using anything similar to our technology. Looking at our expanding D-trend patent estate, we currently have 87 issued patents, with 40 of those issued outside the United States. Our current geographic coverage for our patents includes North America, China, Japan, South Korea, India, and Europe with pending coverage in Taiwan, all representing our high priority patent coverage geography, as part of our product development and introductions.
Speaker Change: We're not aware of any competing inherently bi-directional high-power technologies that are using anything similar to our technology.
Speaker Change: Looking at our expanding VTRAN patent estate, we currently have 87 issued patents with 40 of those issued outside the United States.
Speaker Change: Our current geographic coverage for our patents includes North America, China, Japan, South Korea, India, and Europe, with pending coverage in Taiwan, all representing our high-priority patent coverage geographies.
Dan Berdard: We've expanded our patent efforts to include what we believe to be high-value patents for our driver design and controls and double-sided packaging designs, as both are unique due to the bidirectional nature of our technology. As a result of our continued innovations, our list of pending B-TRAM patents is now 45. In addition, we treat the proven process flow we use to make our devices as a trade secret and work under strict confidentiality with our wafer fabrication partners.
Speaker Change: As part of our product development and introductions, we've expanded our patent efforts to include what we believe to be high-value patents for our driver design and controls and double-sided packaging designs, as both are unique due to the bidirectional nature of our technology.
Speaker Change: As a result of our continued innovations, our list of pending V-TRAM patents is now 45.
Speaker Change: In addition, we treat the proven process flow we use to make our devices as a trade secret and work under strict confidentiality with our wafer fabrication partners. So even if a competitor studied our patents, they wouldn't have the know-how to be able to fabricate the device.
Dan Berdard: So even if a competitor studied our patents, they wouldn't have the know-how to be able to fabricate the device. The bottom line is we continue to execute on our B-Train commercialization roadmap, and prepare for the significant sales ramp we're expecting, initially in industrial markets, and then followed by opportunities in hybrid and electric vehicles. We remain on track to achieve our 2024 milestones and look forward to continuous progress with existing relationships, new collaborations, and several commercial announcements in the coming months. Now, I'd like to turn the call over to Tim Burns to review our financials. Tim?
Speaker Change: The bottom line is we continue to execute on our V-Train Commercialization Roadmap to prepare for the significant sales rump we're expecting.
Speaker Change: Initially in industrial markets, and then followed by opportunities in hybrid and electric vehicles. We remain on track to achieve our 2024 milestones and look forward to continuous progress with existing relationships, new collaborations, and several commercial announcements in the coming months.
Speaker Change: Now I'd like to turn the call over to Tim Burns to review our financials. Tim? Tim Burns, Unknown Attendee, Jeff Christensen
Tim Burns: Thank you, Dan. And good morning, everyone. The second quarter, 2024 cash burn was $2.2 million, up from $1.9 million in the second quarter of 2024 and up from $1.8 million in the second quarter of 2023. Our Q2 cash burn was at the low end of our guidance of $2.2 to $2.4 million due to the timing of spending and related payments. We also added $2.1 million to our cash balance in the second quarter due to the exercise of the over allotment option by the underwriters from our late March public offering.
Tim Burns: Thank you, Dan, and good morning, everyone.
Tim Burns: Second quarter 2024 cash burn was $2.2 million, up from $1.9 million in the second quarter of 2024, and up from $1.8 million in the second quarter of 2023.
Speaker Change: Our Q2 cash burn was at the low end of our guidance of $2.2 to $2.4 million due to timing of spending and related payments.
Speaker Change: We also added $2.1 million to our cash balance in the second quarter due to the exercise of the over allotment option by the underwriters from our late March public offering. In total we raised net proceeds of $15.7 million from the public offering.
Tim Burns: In total, we raised net proceeds of $15.7 million from the public offering. We continue to manage expenses prudently and aggressively. We expect third quarter 2024 cash burn of approximately $2.4 million to $2.6 million. For a full year 2024 cash burner, approximately $8.5 million net of an expected $1 million benefit from proceeds from expiring heavily in the money warrant. Cash and Cash Equivalence totaled $20.1 million at June 30, 2024.
Speaker Change: We continue to manage expenses prudently and aggressively. We expect third quarter 2024 cash burn of approximately $2.4 million to $2.6 million.
Speaker Change: In a full year 2024 cash burn of approximately $8.5 million, net of an expected $1 million benefit from proceeds from expiring heavily in the money warrants.
Speaker Change: Cash-in cash equivalents totaled $20.1 million on June 30, 2024. We have no debt and a clean capital structure.
Speaker Change: We recorded minimal revenue for the second quarter on low-volume orders from the large companies evaluating our products for potential inclusion in their OEM products.
Speaker Change: Looking at the balance of 2024, we expect modest volume in commercial revenue from product sales and potentially development agreements depending on the timing of revenue recognition under any such programs.
Speaker Change: Operating expenses were $2.9 million in the second quarter of 2024 compared to $2.4 million in the second quarter of 2023, driven primarily by higher research and development spending as we were engaged with two FABs and added engineering personnel.
Tim Burns: We expect both research and development and sales and marketing spending to increase modestly in the coming quarters due to hiring and costs associated with our development and commercialization efforts. We also continue to expect some quarter-to-quarter variability in operating expenses, particularly our research and development spending, due to the timing of semiconductor fabrication runs, product development, other research and development activities, and hiring. The timing of equity grants and awaited stock-based conversation expense will also cause variability in our quarterly operating expenses.
Speaker Change: We expect both research and development and sales and marketing spending to increase modestly in coming quarters due to hiring and costs associated with our development and commercialization efforts.
Speaker Change: We also continue to expect some quarter to quarter variability in operating expenses, particularly our research and development spending, due to the timing of semiconductor fabrication runs, product development, other research and development activities, and hiring.
Speaker Change: The timing of equity grants and our weighted stock-based compensation expense will also cause variability in our quarterly operating expenses.
Tim Burns: The net loss in the second quarter of 2024 was $2.7 million compared to $2.3 million in the second quarter of 2023. At the end of June, we had 7,693,917 shares outstanding and 887,160 pre-funded warrants outstanding. 977,313 options in stock units outstanding and 786,420 warrants outstanding. 444,180 of these warrants outstanding are set to expire in November; if not exercised beforehand, at June 30, 2024, our fully diluted share count would be $10,344,810 shares.
Speaker Change: Net loss in the second quarter of 2024 was $2.7 million compared to $2.3 million in the second quarter of 2023.
Speaker Change: At the end of June, we had 7,693,917 shares outstanding.
Speaker Change: 887,160 prefunded warrants outstanding, 977,313 options in stock units outstanding, and 786,420 warrants outstanding.
Speaker Change: $444,180 of these warrants upstanding are set to expire in November if not exercised beforehand.
Speaker Change: At June 30, 2024, our fully diluted share count was 10,344,810 shares.
Operator: At this time, I'd like to open up the call for questions. Operator Brian Dobson, David Williams, Unknown Attendee, Ideal Power. Thank you. At this time, we are conducting a question and answer session. Investors can submit their questions within the meeting webcast by typing them into the Q and A button on the left side of their viewing screen.
Speaker Change: At this time, I'd like to open up the call for questions, operator.
Speaker Change: Thank you. At this time, we are conducting a question and answer session. Investors can submit their questions within the meeting webcast by typing them into the Q&A button on the left side of your viewing screen.
Brian Dobson: Analysts who publish research may ask questions on the phone line; for analysts who wish to ask questions on the phone lane, please press star one on your phone at this, Star One, if you wish to ask a question. Please hold while we pull for questions. The first question today is coming from Brian Dobson from Clear Street. Brian, your line is live.
Speaker Change: Analysts who publish research may ask questions on the phone line. For analysts who ask questions on the phone line, please press star 1 on your phone at this time. That's star 1 if you wish to ask a question. And please hold while we poll for questions.
Speaker Change: And the first question today is coming from Brian Dobson from Clear Street. Brian , your line is live.
Dan Berdard: Thanks very much for taking my questions this morning. So just to kick it off, you know, as you're looking out over the next 12 months, how do you feel about the macro economic environment, given the recent market fluctuations? How confident are you in continued growth? And what does your kind of broader product demand landscape look like over the next 12 months? Yeah, it's interesting when we're working with folks like the automakers who are working on models for the out years.
Brian Thompson: Thanks very much for taking my questions this morning. So just to just to kick it off, you know as you're looking out over the next 12 months
Brian Thompson: How do you feel about the macroeconomic environment given, call it, recent market fluctuations? How confident are you in continued growth and what is your kind of broader product demand landscape look like over the next 12 months?
Speaker Change: Yeah, it's interesting when we're working with folks like the automakers who are working on models in the out years.
Dan Berdard: There's a lot of noise around what's going on in the auto industry, with plant closures and the high cost of cars and the cost of financing. But the groups that we're working with are pretty focused because they're not working on the products that are going to come out this year. They're working on products for the future, so we see really no shortage of funding or focus in those areas. And the macro trend in the long term that we're really benefiting from is the adoption of electric vehicles, the need for EV charging, the adoption of renewable energy, and energy storage. Those macro trends are already there. They're going to go through their own growing pains.
Speaker Change: There's a lot of noise around what's going on in the auto industry with plant closures and high cost of cars and cost of financing, but the groups that we're working with are pretty focused because they're not working on the products are going to come out this year. They're working on the products for the future. So we, we see.
Speaker Change: Really no shortage of funding or focus in those areas.
Speaker Change: And the macro trend and the long term that we're really benefiting from is the adoption of electric vehicles, the need for EV charging, the adoption of renewable energy and energy storage. Those macro trends, you know, are there, they're going to go through their own growing pains and obviously some of those are really susceptible to, you know, project financing costs and interest rates.
Dan Berdard: And obviously, some of those are really susceptible to project financing costs and interest rates. But in general, we haven't seen any impact or even gotten a sense from the teams that we're working with that they're being told to slow down what they're doing. So we're excited about that. Yeah, very good.
Speaker Change: But in general, we haven't seen any impact or even get a sense from the teams that we're working with that they're being told to slow down what they're doing. So we're excited about that.
Dan Berdard: Thanks. So you're working with a third OEM now. Yeah. How do you believe your work with past OEMs has prepared you for this trial? And is there something unique about these three OEMs that is moving them to early adoption versus others? Yeah, good question.
Speaker Change: Yeah, very good. Thanks.
Speaker Change: So, so you're working with a third OEM now.
Speaker Change: How do you believe your work with past OEMs has prepared you for this trial and is there something unique about these three OEMs that are moving them to an early adoption versus others?
Dan Berdard: You know, going through the process with Stellantis has really helped us a lot with engaging the other automakers because we understand how they look at technology, we understand the kind of data they want, what kind of testing they want, and how they want it packaged and presented. So I think it's really helped us come across as a very professional company with these other automakers because we work so closely with the Stellantis team. So that's been really beneficial for us.
Speaker Change: Yeah, good question. You know, going through...
Jeff Christensen: Unknown Attendee, Jeff Christensen
Speaker Change: Come across as a very professional company with these other automakers because we work so closely with the Stellantis team. So that's been really beneficial for us.
Dan Berdard: Thanks, and as a follow-up to that, we do describe the margin opportunity in industrials compared with automotive. And what would be reasonable lead times from testing to implementation for both industrial clients and automotive owners? So in terms of timelines, I mean, on the industrial side, design cycles are roughly a year. So, as we look at some of the converting some of these customers to design wins, that's kind of the rough timeframe you need to look at.
Speaker Change: Thanks, and as a follow-up to that...
Speaker Change: We do describe the margin opportunity in industrials compared with automotive. And what would be reasonable lead times from testing to implementation for both industrial clients and automotive owners?
Dan Berdard: Now, with the automotive companies, I would say it's significantly different. It's, you know, three plus years, even with everything they've done to try to speed up that design cycle for EVs. I still think that's probably what we're looking at in terms of the EV cycle. We'll obviously have a head start on that cycle with Stellantis since we've been engaged with them now for an extended period.
Speaker Change: So in terms of timelines, I mean on the industrial side, design cycles are roughly a year, so it's...
Jeff Christensen: Unknown Attendee, Jeff Christensen
Jeff Christensen: Significantly different, it's...
Jeff Christensen: You know, three plus years, even with everything they've done to try to speed up that design cycle for EVs, I still think.
Jeff Christensen: That's probably what we're looking at in terms of the EV cycle. Obviously, we have a head start.
Jeff Christensen: Unknown Attendee, Jeff Christensen
Speaker Change: Unknown Attendee That will remain true. In terms of gross margins, our overall target gross margin
Dan Berdard: But that will remain true in terms of gross margins, our overall target gross margin. So, including mix, it's about 50% gross margins at scale. If we look at that, we actually think that the industrial opportunities are probably a little bit higher, higher margin for us, particularly in places where we're enabling technology, like solid state circuit breakers. We believe we're the best alternative, and there probably isn't another very good alternative.
Speaker Change: So including mix is about 50% gross margins at scale. If we look at that, we actually think that the industrial opportunity is probably a little bit higher, higher margin for us, particularly in places where we're enabling technology, like solid state circuit breakers and.
Dan Berdard: So that's definitely an opportunity for us. We would expect the automotive industry to be less than 50%, just because they're obviously extremely focused on cost and that's really going to help drive EV adoption if they can bring the cost of their vehicles down. Excellent. Thank you very much.
Speaker Change: We believe we're the best alternative.
Speaker Change: and there probably isn't another very good alternative. So that's definitely an opportunity for us. We would expect automotives to be less than 50% just because they're obviously extremely focused on cost. And that's really going to help drive EV adoption if they can bring the cost of their vehicles down.
Speaker Change: Excellent. Thank you very much.
Operator: Thank you, and once again, it's Star One if you wish to ask a question today. The next question is coming from Chris Tuttle from Blue Capital. Apologies, Blue Catapult. Your line is live.
Speaker Change: Thank you. And once again, it's star one if you wish to ask your question today. The next question is coming from Chris Tuttle from Blue Caterpillar.
Chris Tuttle: Hi, thanks for taking my question and congratulations on the study progress. I wanted to understand a little bit more about Solid State Semiconductor Applications and, specifically, you've got Richardson and now Riosho as distributors. In order for them to be effective, do they need to provide a set of field engineering services around packaging the BTRAN into a fully functioning replacement? So, that's kind of my first question, sort of understanding.
Speaker Change: Your line is live, Chris.
Chris Tuttle: Hi, thanks for taking my question and.
Chris Tuttle: Congratulations on the study progress. I wanted to understand a little bit more about the
Chris Tuttle: Unknown Attendee, Jeff Christensen, Unknown Attendee, Jeff Christensen,
Jeff Christensen: around packaging the Beatran into a fully functioning replacement. So that's kind of my first question, sort of understanding what other pieces are involved in that part of the go-to-market.
Dan Berdard: What other pieces are involved in that that go to that part of the go [inaudible] Yeah, what we provide them is a SIM-cool power module, which is already packaged up for electrical connection. We teach them about the application, we teach them about the device so they can sell it. And there are still customers that will ultimately make the circuit breaker. So we provide them with data that shows, for example, you can parallel devices to reach whatever rating you want. We provide them with the information so they can teach the customers how to use it.
Speaker Change: Yeah, what we provide them is the SimCool Power Module, which is already packaged up for electrical connection.
Speaker Change: We teach them about the application. We teach them about device so they can sell it. And they're selling to customers that will ultimately make the circuit breaker. So we provide them the data that shows.
Speaker Change: For example, you can parallel devices to reach whatever rating you want.
Speaker Change: We provide them the information so they can teach the customers how to control it.
Speaker Change: So, what they're really providing is a technical sales function. They don't actually have to do any kind of product modification or provide any kind of hardware or software. It's really education about the application and how to use our device in it.
Dan Berdard: And then in terms of the, you know, kind of looking at your device versus existing solutions. I understand, you know, about power loss, thermal efficiency, etc. But is there a cost differential here? And can you quantify kind of what it might look like?
Speaker Change: Okay, yeah, that's helpful. And then in terms of the, you know, kind of looking at, you know,
Jeff Christensen: Unknown Attendee, Jeff Christensen
Dan Berdard: and some of the applications that you started working on your device fully integrated versus, you know, the existing circuit breaker technology that's out there. Yeah, the existing circuit breakers that are out there; unfortunately, there really isn't much in the way of solid-state circuit breakers at the industrial and utility level. And it's because of the fact that existing semiconductors like IGBTs have conduction losses that are too high. So there's too much lost power, and there's too much heat that has to be generated.
Jeff Christensen: Unknown Attendee, Jeff Christensen
Jeff Christensen: Yeah, the existing circuit breakers that are out there, unfortunately, there really isn't much in the way of
Jeff Christensen: Solid State Circuit Breakers at the industrial and utility level, and it's because of the fact that existing semiconductors like IGBTs, their conduction losses are too high. So there's too much lost power. There's too much heat that has to be generated. So the conventional circuit breakers are electromechanical devices.
Jeff Christensen: And there's a couple of issues with those. The electromechanical devices.
Jeff Christensen: are basically contactors that open. And when you open the contacts, you get an arc and that creates wear. So they need to they have maintenance associated with them. But the bigger challenge that we're hearing from the customer base and the folks that want to design these solid state circuit breakers is
Jeff Christensen: Our utility system is changing. It wasn't originally designed
Jeff Christensen: for all this energy storage that's going in distributed locations, all the solar, all the EV charging that's going to be put in. So there need to be better circuit breakers that can act faster and prevent that there is a fault that occurs at one of these installations.
Jeff Christensen: and a celil state circuit breaker can act literally orders of magnitude faster than a conventional electro-mechanical breaker. So that's a big part of what's driving that adoption.
Jeff Christensen: Thank you. I will now turn the call back to Jeff Christensen to read questions submitted through the webcast.
Jeff Christensen: And thanks, operator. The first submitted question is the Lantas Ram Charger extended range EV with an advertised 690 mile driving range which is slated to be debuted next year. Sales of extended-range EVs in China have more than doubled in the last year, and extended-range EV sales are projected to grow rapidly in the US in the coming years. Do you view this as a new potential trend as a threat or a benefit to Ideal Power?
Jeff Christensen: Thanks, gentlemen, and thanks, operator. The first submitted question is, Stellantis Ram Charger Extended Range EV with an advertised 690-mile driving range is slated to debut next year.
Speaker Change: Sales of extended-range EVs in China have more than doubled in the last year and Extended-range EV sales are projected to grow rapidly in the US in coming years. Do you view this as new potential trend as a threat or a benefit to Ideal Power?
Jeff Christensen: Actually, it's a benefit because what they're doing with the RAM charger and across the industry is they want to address a couple of their key issues. One of those is, of course, the range of the vehicles. The other one is the time it takes to charge the vehicles.
Speaker Change: Actually, it's a benefit because what what what they're doing with the chart the the RAM charger
Speaker Change: and across the industry is they want to address a couple of their key issues. One of those is, of course, the range of the vehicles.
Dan Berdard: So what they're doing with the RAM charger already exists, I think, in Porsche's vehicle, and we know several other auto manufacturers are making this move themselves. They want to move from a 400-volt system for the batteries to an 800-volt system because that enables them to do a couple of things. One advantage is that they can actually drive the motors with higher voltage and lower current, which means there's less heat produced because heat's really a function of current.
Speaker Change: The other one is the time it takes to charge vehicles. So, what they're doing on the RAM charger, it already exists, I think, in Porsche's vehicle, and we know several other auto manufacturers are making this move themselves. They want to move from a 400-volt system for the batteries to an 800-volt system.
Speaker Change: because that enables them to do a couple of things. One is...
Speaker Change: They can actually drive the motors with higher voltage and lower current.
Speaker Change: which means there's less heat produced because heat is really a function of current.
Dan Berdard: If there's less heat that's produced, electronics last longer, wiring harnesses get, you know, lower cost, significantly cheaper. And most importantly, managing the heat during charging is one of the things that affects how long it takes to charge a car. So if you can charge it at higher voltage and lower current, you can charge it faster.
Speaker Change: If there's less heat that's produced, electronics last longer. Wiring harnesses get lower cost, significantly cheaper. And most importantly, managing the heat during charging is one of the things that paces how long it takes to charge the car. So, if you can charge it at higher voltage and lower current, you can charge it faster.
Dan Berdard: And if they move to an 800-volt bus, that really fits really well with Ideal Power because we have a 1,200-volt rated device. So we're actually happy to see them going in that direction, because it's addressing some of the market concerns with charging time and range and just creates more opportunity for us where we can leverage the full voltage capability of our devices. Thank you.
Speaker Change: and they moved an 800-volt bus that really fits really well with Ideal Power because we have a 1200-volt rated device, so we're actually happy to see them going in that direction.
Speaker Change: because it's addressing some of the market concerns with charging time and range and just creates more opportunity for us where we can leverage the full voltage capability of our devices.
Dan Berdard: Our next minute question is, can some cool power modules be configured for the high voltage and current needed for high-power EV contract contacts? Yeah, the nice thing about our devices is they can be paralleled, and they exhibit a behavior that's different than things like MOSFETs. They have what's called a positive temperature coefficient versus a negative temperature coefficient.
Speaker Change: Thank you. Our next submitted question is, can SimCool power modules be configured for the high voltage and current needed for high power EV contactors?
Dan Berdard: So that means, If one device is failing for some reason, with a positive temperature coefficient, more power is sent to the devices that are lower temperatures. In other words, not getting so hot in things like MOSFETs that are negative temperature coefficients, it actually ultimately ends up in a failure because the hotter the device gets, the more current it conducts. So having devices you can parallel with a positive temperature coefficient really allows you to string them together to whatever size rating you want to target for voltage and current, which is what gives you a lot of flexibility when you start looking at a line of solid-state circuit breakers.
Speaker Change: Yeah, the nice thing about our devices is they can be paralleled and they exhibit a behavior that's different than things like MOSFETs. They have what's called a positive temperature coefficient versus a negative temperature coefficient. So that means...
Speaker Change: If one device is failing for some reason,
Speaker Change: with a positive temperature coefficient, more power is sent to the devices that are lower temperature.
Speaker Change: In other words, not getting so hot in things like MOSFETs that are negative temperature coefficient. It actually
Dan Berdard: You can use the same core device and configure the products for whatever your market applications are that you're targeting. Thanks, Dan. We have several questions that have been submitted. If you have a question, you can click on the ask a question button in the webcast portal.
Jeff Christensen: Unknown Attendee, Jeff Christensen
Jeff Christensen: Unknown Attendee, Jeff Christensen
Jeff Christensen: Our next submitted question is, does silicon carbide have a much higher heat tolerance? How does B-Tran compete against the high tolerance of silicon carbide? Silicon carbide as a material has higher heat tolerance, but the package devices are typically limited to about 175 degrees C. Silicon devices are typically 125 to 150 degrees C. The problem isn't the silicon carbide material, it's the packaging where you have a limitation. High-temperature packaging has a lot of challenges.
Dan: Thanks, Dan.
Speaker Change: We have several questions that have been submitted. If you have a question, you can, you click on the ask a question button in the webcast portal. Our next submitted question is, does silicon carbide devices have much higher heat tolerance? How does BTRAN compete against the high tolerance of silicon carbide?
Speaker Change: Silicon carbide as a material has a higher heat tolerance, but the package devices are typically limited to about 175 degrees C.
Speaker Change: Silicon devices are typically 125 to 150 degrees C. The problem isn't the silicon carbide material. It's the packaging where you have a limitation because high temperature packaging has a lot of challenges.
Dan Berdard: So, when we see people using silicon carbide, it's less for the higher temperature capability and more because their application requires faster switching than what you could do with any silicon device. Because it's faster switching is inherent to the silicon carbide material. The challenge with it, though, is that you've got to have higher heat tolerance if you generate more heat, and, you know, silicon carbide devices have higher conduction losses. So, they're going to have more heat to generate, and you have to deal with the cost of that material.
Jeff Christensen: Unknown Attendee, Jeff Christensen
Jeff Christensen: Unknown Attendee, Jeff Christensen
Speaker Change: Unknown Attendee The challenge with it though is
Speaker Change: You know, you've got to have higher heat tolerance if you generate more heat. And, you know, silicon carbide devices have higher conduction losses. So they're going to have.
Dan Berdard: It's, you know, three to five times higher for a silicon carbide device versus a silicon device. So, know that in the semiconductor world, there are always trade-offs in terms of what you get for performance versus cost. Thank you.
Speaker Change: More heat to generate and you got to deal with the cost of that material. It's, you know, three to five times higher for a silicon carbide device versus silicon device. So know that in the semiconductor world, there's always trade offs in terms of what you get for performance versus cost.
Dan Berdard: Our next question is, will BTRAN be cost effective compared to 500A mechanical high voltage contactors that can be as low as $120 for a single unit? Yeah, the high power side, what we're hearing from the automobile OEMs, they're actually higher costs than I had today, I guess, just because of some of the changes that they require for high voltage or high speed charging. Our product will be competitive. We've got really good feedback from the automobile OEM in terms of what they're looking for, in terms of the cost target and the performance level. We can obviously parallel die to reach whatever the amperage rating is that they want to design for the contactor.
Speaker Change: Thank you. Our next submitted question is will BTRAN be cost-effective compared to 500A mechanical high-voltage contactors that can be as low as $120 for a single unit?
Speaker Change: Yeah, the high power side, what we're hearing from the automobile OEM, they're actually higher cost today, I guess, just because of some of the changes that
Speaker Change: Unknown Attendee, Jeff Christensen, Unknown Attendee, Jeff Christensen, Unknown Attendee,
Jeff Christensen: Unknown Attendee, Jeff Christensen
Jeff Christensen: combination of reliability, programmability, and speed is pretty attractive in terms of what they need to address some of the demands, particularly as they go to higher voltage buses and faster and faster charging on the vehicles.
Speaker Change: Thank you. Our next question is, are Richardson and Raucho have similar agreements with Ideal Power?
Dan Berdard: What we like is that they're very complementary companies because they both have great technical sales teams. They're very good at demand creation, very good at bringing new semiconductor technology to their customer base, but they have really complementary geographies in terms of where they focus. And under our agreements with them, they are compensated the same way.
Speaker Change: Yeah, they're very similar.
Speaker Change: What we like is that, you know, they're very complimentary companies, because they both have great technical sales teams.
Speaker Change: They're very good at demand creation.
Speaker Change: very good at bringing new semiconductor technology to their customer base.
Jeff Christensen: Unknown Attendee, Jeff Christensen
Dan Berdard: So we think the two of them are going to really be a nice complement to our own business development team. To reach those customers, it would be hard for us to reach on our own. Thank you. A minute's question is, in general, what would be the argument for not purchasing ideal power products? Do they need to be proven to meet quality standards? Are they more expensive than the status quo?
Jeff Christensen: Thank you.
Speaker Change: Our next submitted question is, in general, what would be the argument for not purchasing Ideal Power products? Do they need to be proven to meet quality standards? Are they more expensive than status quo?
Dan Berdard: Well, we'll actually, as I mentioned in the repair comments, we're going to actually start the third-party testing for automotive qualification. The reason for not purchasing that I would expect to see is engineers are by nature conservative, and the adoption of new technology doesn't happen quickly. They need to understand the technology. They didn't learn about B-Trend in school, like they probably learned about what a MOSFET is. You don't have years and years of devices operating out in the field, so it's the conservative nature of engineers that I think would probably be the issue that any new technology faces. GAN devices have seen that.
Speaker Change: Well, we'll actually, as I mentioned in the repair comments, we're going to actually start the third-party testing for automotive qualification.
Speaker Change: Unknown Attendee, Jeff Christensen
Speaker Change: Unknown Attendee, Jeff Christensen, Unknown Attendee, Jeff Christensen, Unknown Attendee, Unknown Attendee, Jeff Christensen, Unknown Attendee,
Dan Berdard: Silicon Carbide, when they first started coming to market, they saw that also, so it's really just part of that new technology adoption issue that would be a reason to not purchase it. Our costs will certainly be competitive, and we'll certainly have the same codes and standard certifications that other traditional devices will have, so it's just that education that you have to go through with any new technology you bring to market. Thank you. The module size reduction is great news, but will that impact customer testing time? It won't. And it actually came from some of the customer feedback.
Speaker Change: Thank you.
Speaker Change: The module size reduction is great news, but will it impact customer testing timelines?
Dan Berdard: As they got to know the device, we shared with them what the layout internal to it was, and they wanted to know if we could make it smaller since we were pretty conservative in the design that we did for it. So it really reflects what they were looking for to actually have it physically match the size of an Infineon package that's out there. So it helps them be a little bit more plug and play in terms of their own products, be able to keep the size as small as possible and just get the benefits of BTRAN.
Unknown Attendee: Unknown Attendee It won't. And it actually came from some of the customer feedback.
Speaker Change: As they got to know the device, we shared with them what the layout internal to it is.
Speaker Change: They want to know, can we make it smaller since we were pretty conservative in the design that we did for it. So it really reflects what they were looking for to actually have it physically match the size of an Infineon package that's out there. So it helps them be a little bit more plug and play in terms of.
Speaker Change: their own products, be able to keep the size as small as possible and just get the benefits of BTRAN. So I don't think it's going to affect it at all. I think it's actually going to help with the acceptance of it since it really reflects the feedback we got from multiple customers that were already testing the first version of our Simcoe module.
Dan Berdard: So I don't think it's going to affect it at all. I think it's actually going to help with the acceptance of it since it really reflects the feedback we got from multiple customers that were already testing the first version of our Simcoe module. Can one B-Tran be used for the positive and negative sides of an EV contactor due to its inherent directionality?
Speaker Change: Can one BTRAN be used for the positive and negative sides of an EV contactor due to BTRAN inherent bidirectionality?
Dan Berdard: We don't know exactly how the OEMs are going to want to configure the contactor itself. We're in the early stages of getting them up to speed on it. They're looking at what their options are in terms of how they want to use the device. So as we get further along with the OEM that we announced here recently, we have a better feel in terms of how they want to configure it.
Speaker Change: We don't know exactly how the OEMs are going to want to configure the contactor itself. We're in the early stages of getting them up to speed on it. They're looking at what their options are in terms of how they want to use the device.
Speaker Change: So as we get further along with the OEM that we announced here recently, we'll have a better feel in terms of how they want to configure it.
Dan Berdard: Thank you. You can submit additional questions. We have other questions, and you can submit questions by clicking on the Q&A button. How would your strategy change in the face of a potential global glut of silicon carbide and a much lower silicon carbide MOSFET price? Well, we know that's going to happen over time.
Speaker Change: Thank you. You can submit additional questions. We have other questions and you can submit questions by clicking on the Q&A button.
Speaker Change: How would your strategy change in the face of a potential global glut of silicon carbide and much lower silicon carbide MOSFET prices?
Speaker Change: Unknown Attendee, Jeff Christensen, Unknown Attendee, Jeff Christensen, Unknown Attendee,
Dan Berdard: There is a lot of silicon carbide capacity that's being built out there. Silicon carbide still, though, has some core issues in terms of materials challenges that need to be dealt with. We will be lower cost. I mean, silicon is a lower cost material. It's already in huge volume in terms of its availability. Our wafers are not anything special. It's easier to process. Silicon carbide is a very hard material physically in terms of polishing it and processing the wafers.
Speaker Change: We will be lower cost. I mean, silicon is a lower cost material. It's already in huge volume in terms of its availability. Our wafers are not anything special. It's easier to process. Silicon carbide is a very hard material physically in terms of polishing it and processing the wafers.
Dan Berdard: But as silicon carbide gets lower cost and as the quality of the material gets better, you know, we'll make a silicon carbide B-Tran. There's nothing that stops us from, you know, starting to do work in those advanced materials other than the fact that we just see high cost and materials challenges still haven't been solved yet. Thank you. Looks like, Dan, there's no other questions. Do you have any closing remarks?
Speaker Change: Unknown Attendee, Jeff Christensen
Speaker Change: Unknown AttendeeBut as silicon carbide gets lower cost and as
Speaker Change: The quality of the material gets better. You know, we'll make a silicon carbide BTRAN. There's nothing that stops us from, you know, starting to do work in those advanced materials, other than the fact that we just see high cost and materials challenges still haven't been solved yet.
Speaker Change: Thank you.
Speaker Change: Looks like, Dan, it looks like there's no other questions. Do you have any closing remarks?
Dan Berdard: I just want to thank everybody for joining today's call. It's an exciting quarter as we added another global automotive OEM, added a second high-quality distributor for our products, qualified a second high volume wafer fabricator, saw multiple customers from our test and evaluation program transition to placing orders and increasing the power rating of our products. So we look forward to continuing commercial announcements before our next update call. And at that operator, you can end the call. Thank you. This concludes today's conference. All parties may disconnect. Have a great day!
Speaker Change: I just want to thank everybody for joining today's call. It's an exciting quarter as we added another global automotive OEM, added a second high quality distributor for our products.
Speaker Change: Unknown Attendee, Jeff Christensen, Unknown Attendee, Jeff Christensen, Unknown Attendee,
Speaker Change: Thank you. This concludes today's conference. All parties may disconnect. Have a great day.
Speaker Change: Thank you for joining us today.
Tim Burns: We have no debt in a clean capital structure, and we recorded minimal revenue for the second quarter on low volume orders from large companies evaluating our products for potential inclusion in their OEM products. Looking at the balance of 2024, we expect modest volume and commercial revenue from product sales and potentially development agreements depending on the timing of revenue recognition under any such program. Operating expenses were $2.9 million in the second quarter of 2024 compared to $2.4 million in the second quarter of 2023, driven primarily by higher research and development spending as we were engaged with two fabs and added engineering personnel.
Dan Berdard: For Solid State Circuit Breaker applications, our V-Tran technology has clear advantages providing dramatically lower conduction losses, lower costs, and bidirectionality compared to electromechanical breakers and IGBT and silicon carbide MOSFET based solid State Circuit Breakers. Also, during the quarter, we secured an order for BTRAN products for evaluation and solar inverter applications from a top 10 global provider of power conversion solutions to the solar industry. This customer was a previously announced participant in our BTRAN test and evaluation program and is one of several who are advancing from that program to beginning to order products from us as part of their application specific development work.
Dan Berdard: So the conventional circuit breakers are electromechanical devices, and there are a couple of issues with those. The electro-mechanical devices are basically contactors that open, and when you open the contacts, you get an arc, and that creates where.
Dan Berdard: So, they have maintenance associated with them, but the bigger challenge that we're hearing from the customer base and the folks that want to design these solid-state circuit breakers is that our utility system is changing. It wasn't originally designed for all this energy storage that's going in in distributed locations, all the solar, all the EV charging that's going to be put in. So, there need to be better circuit breakers that can act faster in the event that there is a fault that occurs at one of these installations.
Dan Berdard: Plus, what the OEMs are telling us is that they also like the fact that the contactor can now act orders of magnitude faster than the traditional mechanical contactor. And you have the added benefit of it being programmable and having no contacts to wear or fuse. And that combination of reliability, programmability, and speed is pretty attractive in terms of what they need to address some of the demands, particularly as they go to higher voltage buses and faster and faster charging on the vehicle. Thank you. Our next question is, do Richardson and Raucho have similar agreements with Ideal Power? Yeah, they're very similar.
Dan Berdard: So what they're really providing is a technical sales function. They don't actually have to do any kind of product modification or provide any kind of hardware software. It's really education about the application and how to use our device with it. Okay, yeah, that's helpful.
Dan Berdard: And a solid-state circuit breaker can act literally orders of magnitude faster than a conventional electro-mechanical breaker. So, that's a big part of what's driving that adoption. Thank you. I've turned the call back to Jeff Christensen to take re-questions submitted through the webcast. Thanks, gentlemen.