The global automotive industry stands at an unprecedented inflection point. With electric vehicle sales reaching record highs and governments worldwide mandating emissions reductions, the demand for efficient, reliable power conversion technology has never been more critical. Yet beneath the hood of every electric vehicle lies a complex challenge: how to efficiently manage power between multiple battery systems, auxiliary components, and charging infrastructure without compromising performance or safety.
This challenge has created a multi-billion-dollar opportunity for companies that can deliver the sophisticated power electronics required for next-generation mobility. Enter Calex Manufacturing, a Silicon Valley company that has been quietly revolutionizing power conversion technology for over 50 years and is now positioned at the forefront of the electric mobility transformation.
Five Decades of Power Innovation
Calex, a subsidiary of Murata Power Solutions, Inc., has been serving the electronics industry as a key player for more than 50 years with a wide variety of ruggedized DC-DC Converters that range from 1 Watt to 4000 Watts. Power Systems DesignCalex What began as a traditional power electronics manufacturer has evolved into a specialized provider of cutting-edge solutions for the world’s most demanding applications.
Located in the Silicon Valley region of California, Calex stands as a trailblazer in innovation, driven by a commitment to powering a green planet. 4000W HBC Bi-directional DC-DC Converter | Calex The company’s transformation reflects broader industry shifts toward sustainability and efficiency, but Calex’s approach goes beyond simply following trends. They’ve made environmental stewardship central to their business strategy.
Calex is dedicated to powering a green planet with highly efficient, reliable, leading-edge technologies in the e-Mobility, transportation, and industrial markets. Calex Launches High-Efficiency Bi-Directional DC-DC Converters for e-Mobility Applications This mission statement represents more than corporate messaging; it reflects fundamental changes in how the company develops, manufactures, and positions its products for tomorrow’s mobility ecosystem.
Meeting the E-Mobility Challenge
The transition to electric mobility presents unique technical challenges that traditional power systems weren’t designed to address. Modern electric and hybrid vehicles require sophisticated power management systems that can efficiently convert between different voltage levels, manage bidirectional energy flow, and operate reliably under extreme conditions.
Calex’s high-density power converters are ideal for advancing the transition to sustainable energy solutions in e-Mobility, electric and hybrid vehicles, transit, industrial, and power storage/generation applications. Calex Launches High-Efficiency Bi-Directional DC-DC Converters for e-Mobility Applications The company’s solutions address critical pain points in electric vehicle design, from auxiliary power systems to battery management and charging infrastructure.
Standard Hybrid Electric Vehicle architecture typically requires the use of two independent batteries at different voltages, and Calex created the 3kW Bi-directional DC/DC converter in response to these requirements. This architectural complexity drives demand for sophisticated power conversion solutions that can manage multiple battery systems seamlessly.
Cutting-Edge Bidirectional Technology
Calex’s latest innovations center on bidirectional power conversion, a critical technology for next-generation electric vehicles. These systems enable energy to flow in both directions, allowing vehicles to not only consume power but also serve as mobile energy storage and distribution systems.
Revolutionary 4kW HBC Series represents Calex’s flagship bidirectional solution for high-voltage applications. The 4,000W Bi-directional DC-DC converter provides a complete solution for high-voltage e-mobility step-down applications such as low voltage auxiliary power systems from a high voltage source. This capability proves essential for electric vehicles that need to power traditional 12V systems from high-voltage battery packs.
Compact 3kW BCA Series addresses space and weight constraints in automotive applications. The BCA is compact and light-weight, weighing only 2.86 pounds, and features a low-profile design with dimensions measuring 8.67 x 6.14 x 1.01″. The ruggedized design boasts an efficiency of 97%, one of the highest power densities in the industry. These specifications prove critical in automotive applications where every pound and cubic inch matters for vehicle performance and range.
User-Friendly 750W BCE Series demonstrates Calex’s commitment to accessibility across engineering disciplines. Designed with simplicity in mind, this advanced yet user-friendly converter is here to make power management easier for engineers, especially those working on the next generation of EVs and hybrid vehicles. You don’t need to be a power electronics expert to use it. This approach democratizes access to advanced power conversion technology.
Industry-Leading Performance Specifications
Calex’s technical achievements reflect decades of engineering expertise applied to modern challenges. The company’s latest products deliver performance specifications that set new industry benchmarks for efficiency, power density, and reliability.
Calex’s catalog boasts a range of standard DC-DC converters, spanning from 1 Watt to several kilowatts, each meticulously designed with the highest efficiency in mind to contribute to the greater cause of a cleaner and greener planet. 4000W HBC Bi-directional DC-DC Converter | Calex This range ensures solutions for applications from small sensors to large industrial systems.
Efficiency Leadership positions Calex at the forefront of power conversion performance. The 3000-Watt Bi-Directional Converter is engineered for 12V, 24V & 48V battery systems, achieving an outstanding efficiency of up to 97%. 4000W HBC Bi-directional DC-DC Converter | Calex These efficiency levels translate directly into extended vehicle range and reduced energy consumption.
Power Density Innovation addresses critical space constraints in modern vehicle design. The FXW series exhibits unparalleled power density of 181W/in³ over a 9-36 VDC input range in a ruggedized full brick package that delivers 1000-Watts of output power. This power density enables more compact vehicle designs without sacrificing performance.
Rugged Reliability ensures operation under extreme conditions typical in automotive and industrial environments. With up to 96.7% efficiency and a rugged IP67 rating, the 750W BCE ensures smooth power transfer between a vehicle’s 48-volt high-side battery and the 12-volt auxiliary systems. This reliability proves essential for safety-critical automotive applications.
Manufacturing Excellence and Quality Assurance
Calex’s competitive advantage extends beyond product design to encompass manufacturing capabilities and quality systems that ensure consistent performance across all applications.
All products are designed, qualified, tested and manufactured in the USA at their manufacturing facility in Concord, CA. Products | Calex This domestic manufacturing capability provides supply chain security and quality control advantages increasingly valued by automotive OEMs and other industrial customers.
The converters have been designed and tested to meet the requirements of the EN50155 railway standard and are ideal for use in rolling stock with 96V to 110V traction batteries typically seen in intercity, regional, high-speed and freight train applications. This certification demonstrates Calex’s commitment to meeting the most stringent industry standards.
The company’s quality focus extends beyond individual products to comprehensive system solutions. Beyond our standard models, Calex takes pride in offering custom DC-DC solutions tailored to meet your specific requirements. We facilitate the development of detailed product specifications, ensuring your needs align seamlessly with our shared commitment to powering a green planet. 4000W HBC Bi-directional DC-DC Converter | Calex
Market Position and Growth Strategy
Calex’s position within the Murata Power Solutions ecosystem provides strategic advantages that smaller competitors cannot match. Murata Power Solutions was formed in 2007 when Murata Manufacturing Corporation acquired the power electronics division of C&D Technologies. Currently the world’s number 1 supplier of DC/DC converters and one of the top 5 largest suppliers of power electronics overall.
This market leadership translates into research and development resources, manufacturing scale, and global distribution capabilities that enable Calex to compete effectively in rapidly evolving markets. The parent company’s broad portfolio also provides cross-selling opportunities and technical synergies that benefit customer relationships.
Calex offers a wide variety of standard DC-DC power converters ranging from 4 Watts to 3.5 kilowatts, including: • 3500 Watt Bi-Directional automotive 12V/48V battery system with efficiency up to 97% • Chassis mount DC-DC converters ranging from 1100 to 2100 Watts with efficiency up to 97% in a low profile compact package. This comprehensive product range enables Calex to serve diverse customer needs through standardized solutions while maintaining the capability for custom development.
Future of Sustainable Transportation
The electric mobility revolution extends far beyond passenger vehicles to encompass commercial transportation, industrial equipment, and energy infrastructure. Calex’s technology roadmap addresses these expanded applications while maintaining focus on environmental sustainability.
Calex offers products for multiple segments of the e-Mobility market, with products ranging in power from 300 watts to 4000 watts for battery voltages of 12, 24, 28, 48, and 400Vdc. This voltage range spans everything from traditional automotive systems to high-voltage commercial vehicle applications.
Calex is powering a green planet while supporting your electric mobility applications. Offering high efficient AC-DC power supplies, unidirectional and bidirectional DC-DC converters, and onboard chargers. This comprehensive approach to power conversion enables customers to source multiple components from a single supplier, simplifying design and procurement processes.
The company’s vision extends beyond individual products to encompass broader transportation electrification trends. Calex supports your off the grid experience by providing high efficiency energy storage and conversion with the Bi-Directional DC-DC conversion products. This capability positions Calex to participate in emerging applications like vehicle-to-grid energy storage and mobile power generation.
Innovation for a Cleaner Future
Calex’s commitment to environmental sustainability goes beyond marketing messaging to encompass fundamental design philosophy and business strategy. The company recognizes that the transition to sustainable transportation requires not just electric vehicles but entire ecosystems of supporting technologies.
Calex’s electricity-saving power supplies enable electric and hybrid vehicles to run efficiently, reduce emissions, and promote cleaner transportation solutions. Calex Launches High-Efficiency Bi-Directional DC-DC Converters for e-Mobility Applications This efficiency focus translates directly into reduced energy consumption and extended vehicle range, addressing two of the primary consumer concerns about electric vehicles.
The company’s technology development prioritizes solutions that enable broader adoption of sustainable transportation. The 750W BCE brings hassle-free, low-voltage power conversion to the table, improving overall performance and energy usage. By making advanced power conversion technology more accessible and easier to implement, Calex helps accelerate the transition to electric mobility across multiple industries and applications.
A Platform for Tomorrow’s Mobility
As the transportation industry continues its transformation toward sustainability and electrification, companies like Calex play increasingly critical roles in enabling technological advancement. Their five decades of power electronics expertise, combined with focused innovation in bidirectional conversion technology, positions them uniquely to support the next generation of mobility solutions.
At Calex Manufacturing Co., Inc., our journey goes beyond manufacturing power converters; it’s about facilitating the progression toward sustainability in the e-Mobility industry, one innovation at a time. 4000W HBC Bi-directional DC-DC Converter | Calex This mission-driven approach ensures that Calex will continue developing solutions that address real-world challenges while supporting broader environmental objectives.
At Calex, powering a green planet isn’t just a slogan but a comprehensive commitment that encompasses product design, manufacturing processes, and strategic partnerships. Through continued innovation in bidirectional power conversion, ruggedized packaging, and high-efficiency operation, the company demonstrates that sustainable transportation requires not just electric motors and batteries, but entire ecosystems of supporting technologies designed for environmental stewardship.
Ready to power your e-mobility applications? Visit Calex’s website to explore their comprehensive range of DC-DC converters and e-mobility solutions. Whether you’re developing electric vehicles, hybrid systems, or industrial equipment, Calex’s proven technology and manufacturing excellence deliver the reliability and performance your applications demand.
Learn more about Calex’s latest bidirectional converter innovations and discover how 50+ years of power electronics expertise can accelerate your transition to sustainable mobility solutions.
Born and raised amidst the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple, I’ve witnessed the city’s many exciting phases. When I’m not exploring the city or penning down my thoughts, you can find me sipping on a cup of coffee at my favorite local café, playing chess or planning my next trip. For the last twelve years, I’ve been living in South Williamsburg with my partner Berenike.