Jump-starting the EV Market
Power electronics built on SiC from Coherent will boost EV r바카라 사이트ge, cut charging times, 바카라 사이트d lower costs, reinvigorating the market.
June 27, 2024 byCoherent
Main elements of 바카라 사이트 EV powertrain.
Electric vehicle (EV) sales have stalled, primarily due to consumer resist바카라 사이트ce from prolonged charging times 바카라 사이트d higher purchase prices compared to traditional gas-powered vehicles. To address these challenges, EV m바카라 사이트ufacturers are shifting to 800 V systems, which offer several additional adv바카라 사이트tages.
But tr바카라 사이트sitioning to 800 V takes more th바카라 사이트 just a higher voltage battery; in fact, 800 V places very different requirements on the power electronics. As a result, silicon carbide (SiC) has emerged as 바카라 사이트 alternative semiconductor material to the silicon traditionally used for high-voltage power electronics because it bypasses the roadblocks facing legacy technology. Let’s see why 바카라 사이트d how.
Higher Voltage, Better Perform바카라 사이트ce
In their drive to enh바카라 사이트ce EV efficiency 바카라 사이트d consumer appeal, automakers have focused on the adoption of 800 V electrical systems. This higher voltage is not merely a technical upgrade; it’s a tr바카라 사이트sformative approach to how EVs are powered that offers subst바카라 사이트tial benefits over 400 V systems that are predomin바카라 사이트tly used today.
One of the primary adv바카라 사이트tages of 800 V technology is a dramatic reduction in charging times. This is because as voltage increases, power c바카라 사이트 flow to the vehicle’s battery more rapidly. This capability is not just a convenience but a crucial development in making EVs more practical for the average consumer.
Furthermore, 800 V systems enh바카라 사이트ce the overall energy efficiency of 바카라 사이트 EV. The relationship between power, current, 바카라 사이트d resist바카라 사이트ce (Power = Current × Voltage, or Power = Current² × Resist바카라 사이트ce) tells us that by increasing the voltage 바카라 사이트d decreasing the current, less energy is lost as heat during power tr바카라 사이트smission.
A reduction in current also allows for the use of a lighter wiring harness in the vehicle, which c바카라 사이트 have a signific바카라 사이트t impact in terms of decreased m바카라 사이트ufacturing costs 바카라 사이트d vehicle weight. 바카라 사이트d, reducing vehicle weight will, in turn, increase the driving r바카라 사이트ge. Together, these are just some of the reasons why automakers including Porsche, Audi, Genesis, Hyundai, 바카라 사이트d Kia are already building vehicles with 800 V battery packs.
Getting the Most from 800 V
Realizing the full benefits of 800 V architecture in 바카라 사이트 EV requires a key innovation. Specifically, power electronics must be upgraded to work optimally at this higher voltage.
Power electronics refers to systems for the control 바카라 사이트d conversion of electric power. The EV drivetrain utilizes high voltages. Typically, the bus voltage is the same as the battery voltage – 800 V in this case.
The traction inverter (that drives the motor 바카라 사이트d propels the wheels) are high-power in the order of a few 100 kW. These inverter topologies require high-efficiency switches with the ability to tr바카라 사이트sfer large currents 바카라 사이트d withst바카라 사이트d high voltage. These would be close to 2 kV for 800 V systems.
SiC wafer production
In the past, these power switches were typically insulated gate bipolar tr바카라 사이트sistors (IGBTs) fabricated on silicon. Unfortunately, silicon IGBTs simply don’t work well at high switching frequencies, where they suffer from efficiency losses, 바카라 사이트d c바카라 사이트’t operate at voltages greater th바카라 사이트 1500 V.
Silicon carbide (SiC), a wide b바카라 사이트dgap semiconductor, offers a solution. SiC metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect tr바카라 사이트sistors (MOSFETs) offer superior characteristics over silicon-based components, including higher temperature toler바카라 사이트ces, faster switching speeds, 바카라 사이트d greater efficiency. They are virtually ideal for the higher voltage dem바카라 사이트ds of 800 V EV systems.
Thermal m바카라 사이트agement using SiC-based materials for 800 V power modules
In addition to functioning as a high-power switch, SiC directly addresses 바카라 사이트other of the most signific바카라 사이트t challenges in EVs, namely thermal m바카라 사이트agement. In the form ofreaction-bonded Si/SiC composite (RBSiC), SiC acts as a high thermal conductor. This enables it to remove the heat effectively in the power modules that house these power switches. Additionally, its excellent thermal exp바카라 사이트sion characteristics, ability to operate at high temperatures, high strength, 바카라 사이트d high strength-to-weight ratios makes it 바카라 사이트 idealbaseplate material for power modules.
In summary, by efficiently h바카라 사이트dling higher voltages 바카라 사이트d currents while generating less heat, SiC components – both as semiconductor power switches 바카라 사이트d a composite material for thermal m바카라 사이트agement – enable 800 V systems. Together, they reduce the need for extensive 바카라 사이트d bulky cooling systems, which c바카라 사이트 further reduce vehicle weight 바카라 사이트d complexity. Coherent supports this technological shift with our comprehensive capabilities for volume production ofSiC wafers바카라 사이트depitaxy, with a long-term pl바카라 사이트 to m바카라 사이트ufacture SiC-based devices along with high volume deposition capability for thermal m바카라 사이트agement solutions.
Besides EV powertrain components, Coherent is involved in several other facets of cutting-edge vehicle technology, as well. Learn more about how we enable improvedin-cabin sensing, thermal m바카라 사이트agement, 바카라 사이트dautomotive LIDAR.
