Our previous article mentioned that SIC is a wide bandgap semiconductor material, which has higher breakdown electric field strength, higher thermal conductivity, and higher carrier mobility compared to traditional silicon (Si) materials. These characteristics enable SiC devices to maintain stable operation at high temperatures, voltages, and frequencies. Compared to traditional silicon-based devices, SiC devices can operate at higher temperatures and voltages, greatly improving the efficiency and reliability of the system.

As one of the key factors driving the development of electric vehicle technology, silicon carbide (SiC) devices are gradually becoming the focus of the industry due to their excellent performance. The role of SiC devices in improving the efficiency of electric vehicle systems is particularly noteworthy. They not only improve energy utilization, but also extend battery life, ultimately achieving longer range and lower overall cost of ownership.

1、 How SiC devices can improve the system efficiency of electric vehicles

Reducing conduction loss: The conduction resistance of SiC power devices is much lower than that of silicon devices of the same size. In the traction drive system of electric vehicles, this means that when transmitting the same amount of electricity, SiC devices generate less heat, thereby reducing energy loss and improving the efficiency of the entire system.

Reduce switching losses: The switching speed of SiC devices far exceeds that of silicon devices, which results in lower losses when converting current. The application of SiC devices in inverters and DC/DC converters of electric vehicles can significantly reduce energy loss during the switching process, further improving energy efficiency.

Improving thermal management efficiency: SiC devices have a thermal conductivity nearly three times higher than silicon devices, which means they can more effectively export heat from the device. This improved thermal management capability reduces the burden on the cooling system, reduces the energy demand of the cooling system, and thus improves overall energy efficiency.

Supporting higher operating voltage: SiC devices can operate stably at higher voltages, allowing electric vehicles to adopt higher operating voltages without reducing power density. A higher voltage level can reduce the working current, thereby further reducing energy loss.

Reducing size and weight: Thanks to the high efficiency of SiC devices, electric vehicle power systems using SiC devices can be designed to be more compact and lightweight. This not only reduces the use of materials, but also helps to improve the power performance of electric vehicles and reduce energy consumption.

2、 Practical application cases

In the field of electric vehicles, SiC devices have been widely used in key systems such as traction inverters, chargers, and DC/DC converters. For example, some leading electric vehicle manufacturers have started using SiC based inverters in their high-performance models, which not only improve energy efficiency but also help reduce vehicle weight, enabling vehicles to achieve longer range.

SiC devices provide significant system efficiency improvements for electric vehicles by improving energy utilization, reducing system losses, improving thermal management efficiency, and supporting higher operating voltages.

With the continuous maturity of SiC technology and further cost reduction, it is expected that its application in the field of electric vehicles will become more widespread in the future, contributing an important force to promoting the progress of electric vehicle technology and promoting sustainable environmental development.