Rohm teams with automotive parts maker for SiC electric vehicle drives

Rohm has signed a deal to develop silicon carbide electric vehicle drives with Vitesco Technologies.

“Energy efficiency is of paramount importance in an electric vehicle,” said Vitesco v-p Thomas Stierle. “As the traction battery is the only source of energy in the vehicle, any losses caused by power conversion need to be minimised. We are therefore developing a SiC option within our modular power electronics system. To get the maximum efficiency out of the power electronics and the e-motor we will use SiC power devices from our preferred partner. ROHM has convinced us of its products.”

Vitesco is already developing and testing an 800V SiC inverter – aiming to optimise both inverter switching strategy and motor together – and has found SiC mosfets offer more efficient switching through higher frequency and steeper switching slopes, as well as causing fewer harmonic losses in the electric motor. It is also looking into 800V SiC on-vehicle battery chargers. “In the course of the cooperation,” said Vitesco, “Rohm and Vitesco will work on creating the optimum combination of ROHM’s SiC technology for high volume manufacturing and best fit of inverter design for highest efficiency.”

As well as Rohm joining work on 800V inverters, the companies will develop a 400V SiC inverter. Vitesco intendes to start SiC in verter production in 2025.

Rohm and Vitesco both have sites near Nuremberg: Rohm’s SiCrystal, and Vitesco Technologies’ headquarters at Regensburg – it employs almost 40,000 people at around 50 locations worldwide.