With an absolute maximum rating (AMR) of 75 V, STMicroelectronics’ L98GD8E is the only 48-V automotive pre-driver to combine ISO 21780 compliance for 48-V electrical systems with eight channels for high-side and low-side driving. Typical applications for the L98GD8E include mild-hybrid systems such as powertrain and energy recovery, as well as auxiliary systems like e-compressors and integrated starter generators.

The device’s eight outputs are independently configurable for driving external high-side N-channel and P-channel, or low-side N-channel, MOSFETs, allowing for flexibility to handle loads in a variety of configurations. One IC can control up to two H‑bridges in DC motor drives, or manage multiple relays as well as resistive or capacitive loads, and provide peak/hold control for small valves. Channel 6 is suitable for driving safety-relevant loads that require a dedicated enable pin.

The L98GD8E assists with automotive electromagnetic-compatibility (EMC) regulations by permitting MOSFET slew-rate control during both turn‑on and turn‑off. Its advanced diagnostic features help meet high safety requirements by protecting loads and detecting faults such as short-to-ground, short-to-battery, and open load in both ON and OFF conditions. Two integrated 10‑bit ADCs, monitoring battery voltage and device temperature, enable dynamic and automatic overcurrent threshold compensation to adapt to all operating conditions.

The pre-driver is compatible with 3.3- and 5-V logic and provides a high‑speed SPI interface for configuring the IC and sharing diagnostic signals. The diagnostics also include built-in self-test (BIST), hardware self-checking (HWSC) of internal overvoltage-detection circuitry, a communication check (CC) watchdog timer, and access to battery and die temperature measurements via its SPI port.

Housed in a 10- × 10-mm TQFP64 package, the L98GD8E is in production now, with pricing starting at $3.95 for orders of 1,000 pieces.