Electric vehicle (EV) technology is set to boom in light of the world’s desire for sustainable and clean energy. One of the materials making such mutations of the electric carriage possible is the semiconductor silicon carbide (SiC). It is a wide-bandgap semiconductor that makes the power electronics in your EV more efficient. As the need for SiC components picks up, how are performance EV manufacturers to pick reliable sources? We run down the biggest and best suppliers of SiC materials for the EV maker.
Why Silicon Carbide in Electric Vehicles?
Silicon carbide is an advanced semiconductor material which makes power electronics more efficient, more reliable and overall improves EV system performance — SiC MOSFETs/Diodes in general are big improvements over their silicon brethren since:
Higher Efficiency: As SiC devices can operate at higher voltages, frequencies and temperatures they are particularly well-suited to high-power applications such as those found in EVs.
Reduced Energy loss: Since SiC is a better heat conductor less energy is essentially ‘lost’ so you get longer battery life and better range.
Smaller lighter components: The size of power modules comes down thanks to SiC, with surprisingly dense compact power modules becoming commonplace in the EV world.Choosing the Proper Supplier for Silicon Carbide Aimed at EVs
As the EV market grows and the SiC materials and components adjust to its needs, you need to choose who to contact in order to product what you need effectively’ and without any angst’What to watch for with Single Semiconductor Suppliers
It’s worth looking not just at what standard SiC materials your chosen supplier can provide (from stock)?, and which suitable certifications, That might be say ISO 9001, or IATF 16949, and you should take note of the experience of the supplier, in SiC production, and in supplying SiC materials (EV’s in particular might have certain specific requirements). Customisability enters the picture here, and you may need a customized SiC required in that designation, or some special SiC component offer. Cost is of course a consideration also; how well does your chosen supplier do well against that measure, without short-changing performance?
Leading Suppliers of Silicon carbide to EV Maker
Wolfspeed (Cree Inc.)
As one of the world’s leading of vendors of SiC products, Wolfspeed portfolio of SiC power components are wide ranging and its products are used in automotive applications from several firms. Wolfspeed is accepted by all kinds of EV manufacturers as a supplier of quality parts.
ROHM Semiconductor
As another leading of provider of silicon carbide power devices, ROHM’s products are targeted to automotive and industrial applications for EV’s, and have worked their way in to various EV applications as a trustworthy third party. SiC parts supplied to EV makers across the board as a trusted supplier.
STMicroelectronics
As a worldwide supplier of SiC devices; many of them centre on automotive/mobility sectors of the market. Though automotive is a good target; myriad different high-end applications are available and you can depend on a firm with a quality reputation for providing effective products to EV makers.
Infineon Technologies
Niche leading power supplier, Infineon is also a supplier of parts in the space of SiC. Its IC in stock from 600 Volts and above. Its power modules and substrates turn up in cross section many different EV solutions.
Norstel
Recognised for quality silicon carbide wafers and substrates, such of Norstel lead to a contribution to the vital in the coming generation of power devices. With high performance SiC materials supporting demanding applications, Norstel is a contributor to the development of quality for power electronics for electric vehicles.