EV, IoT and 5G projects create different component requirements. A traction inverter, a battery-powered sensor and a wireless base station should not share the same buying checklist. Start with the application architecture, then identify the electrical, environmental and supply requirements for each part.
EV components: distinguish the power-conversion stages
Electric-vehicle electronics include traction inverters, battery monitoring, onboard charging, DC/DC conversion and control systems. These functions place different demands on power switches, gate drivers, isolation, current sensing and cooling.
An onboard charger converts incoming AC into DC for the traction battery. In DC fast charging, that conversion takes place in the external charging station and the DC output bypasses the onboard charger. A charging station's advertised power must therefore not be treated as the onboard charger's rating. Texas Instruments explains these two charging paths.
| EV function | Component groups | Questions for engineering and purchasing |
|---|---|---|
| Traction inverter | Power switches or modules, gate drivers, current sensors | What are the bus voltage, transient limits, switching conditions and cooling arrangement? |
| Onboard charger and DC/DC converter | Power devices, controllers, magnetics, capacitors and isolation devices | Which topology, input range, isolation requirements and operating temperatures apply? |
| Battery monitoring | Cell-monitoring ICs, temperature sensing, controllers and communications | What measurement accuracy, diagnostic coverage and system-level protection are required? |
Compare silicon, SiC and GaN devices using the proposed circuit and operating conditions. Do not assume a universal efficiency improvement or treat them as interchangeable. For automotive projects, obtain qualification and reliability documentation for the exact ordering code; a product-family label alone does not establish suitability.
IoT components: build a realistic power and connectivity budget
Begin with the sensor workload, reporting interval, communication range and available power source. These determine the MCU, radio, memory and power-management requirements more reliably than choosing the newest processor family.
- Processing and memory: Estimate firmware size, RAM, peripheral interfaces, update storage and any local processing workload. A simple sensor node does not automatically need high-density NAND storage.
- Connectivity: Compare Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, LoRaWAN or cellular options against data volume, coverage, latency, infrastructure and deployment-region requirements. Different networks serve different workloads.
- Power: Include sleep current, sensor warm-up, radio transmit peaks, regulator losses and battery characteristics in the duty-cycle budget.
- Lifecycle: Check software support, secure update provisions, module documentation and component availability for the intended service life.
For a more detailed selection checklist, read our guide to choosing microcontrollers for IoT projects.
5G components: define the radio before specifying the PCB
A “5G-ready” label is not a complete specification. Define the supported bands, bandwidth, transmit power, antenna arrangement and installation environment. Sub-6 GHz and millimeter-wave designs have different RF and layout requirements. Qorvo's fixed wireless access design discussion illustrates how spectrum, antenna arrays, amplifier technology and thermal constraints interact.
Specify filters, amplifiers, switches and interconnects for the actual operating conditions. A power amplifier alone does not determine end-to-end data rate. Have the RF and PCB teams agree on the stack-up, impedance, insertion-loss budget, routing and manufacturing tolerances. Material loss cannot be summarized by one universal figure without frequency and geometry.
A purchasing checklist shared by all three applications
- Record the manufacturer, complete part number, package, temperature grade and approved alternatives in the BOM.
- Obtain current datasheets, lifecycle notices and application-specific qualification evidence.
- Ask for dated quotations showing quantity, lead time, traceability, delivery terms and any order restrictions.
- Validate substitutions with engineering before changing the approved BOM.
- Set inventory coverage from demand variability, replenishment time and obsolescence exposure rather than a fixed blanket stock target.
Component demand and availability vary by part and date. Use this application checklist to prepare a sourcing enquiry, then confirm specifications and supply conditions for your project with Informic.
