Revolutionizing EVs with SiC Power Technology

While serving the needs of both the automotive and industrial markets, the new technology is particularly optimized for traction inverters, the key component of electric vehicle (EV) powertrains. The company plans to introduce further advanced SiC technology innovations through 2027 as a commitment to innovation.

The Generation 4 MOSFETs feature a significantly lower on-resistance — RDS(on) —measured against prior generations, minimizing conduction losses, and enhancing overall system efficiency. They offer faster switching speeds, which translate to lower switching losses, crucial for high-frequency applications and enabling more compact and efficient power converters. The Generation 4 technology provides extra robustness in Dynamic Reverse Bias (DRB) conditions, exceeding the AQG324 automotive standard, ensuring reliable operation under harsh conditions.

With Generation 4 ST continues to deliver outstanding RDS(on) x die-area figure of merit to ensure high current-handling capability with minimal losses. The average die size of Generation 4 devices is 12-15% smaller than that of Generation 3, considering an RDS(on) at 25 degrees Celsius, allowing for more compact power converter designs, saving valuable space, and reducing system costs.

The new SiC MOSFET devices, which will be made available in 750-V and 1200-V classes, will improve energy efficiency and performance of both 400-V and 800-V EV bus traction inverters, bringing the advantages of SiC to mid-size and compact EVs — key segments to help achieve mass market adoption. The new generation SiC technology is also suitable for a variety of high-power industrial applications, including solar inverters, energy storage solutions and datacenters, significantly improving energy efficiency for these growing applications.

ST has completed qualification of the 750-V class of the fourth generation SiC technology platform and expects to complete qualification of the 1200-V class in the first quarter of 2025. Commercial availability of devices with nominal voltage ratings of 750-V and 1200-V will follow, allowing designers to address applications operating from standard AC-line voltages up to high-voltage EV batteries and chargers.

The Generation 4 SiC MOSFETs provide higher efficiency, smaller components, reduced weight, and extended driving range compared to silicon-based products. These benefits are critical for achieving widespread adoption of EVs and leading EV manufacturers are engaged with ST to introduce the Generation 4 SiC technology into their vehicles, enhancing performance and energy efficiency. While the primary application is EV traction inverters, the Generation 4 SiC MOSFETs are also suitable for use in high-power industrial motor drives, benefiting from the devices’ improved switching performance and robustness.

In renewable energy applications, the Generation 4 SiC MOSFETs enhance the efficiency of solar inverters and energy storage systems, contributing to more sustainable and cost-effective energy solutions. Additionally, these SiC MOSFETs can be utilized in power supply units for server datacenters for AI, where their high efficiency and compact size are crucial for the significant power demands and thermal management challenges.

To accelerate the development of SiC power devices through its vertically integrated manufacturing strategy, ST is developing multiple SiC technology innovations in parallel to advance power device technologies over the next three years. The fifth generation of ST SiC power devices will feature an innovative high-power density technology based on planar structure. ST is at the same time developing a radical innovation that promises outstanding on-resistance RDS(on) value at high temperatures and further RDS(on) reduction, compared to existing SiC technologies.

“STMicroelectronics is committed to driving the future of electric mobility and industrial efficiency through our cutting-edge silicon carbide technology. We continue to advance SiC MOSFET technology with innovations in the device, advanced packages, and power modules,” said Marco Cassis, President, Analog, Power & Discrete, MEMS and Sensors Group.

“Together with our vertically integrated manufacturing strategy, we are delivering industry leading SiC technology performance and a resilient supply chain to meet the growing needs of our customers and contribute to a more sustainable future.” As the market leader in SiC power MOSFETs, ST is driving further innovation to exploit higher efficiency and greater power density of SiC compared to silicon devices.

This latest generation of SiC devices is conceived to benefit future EV traction inverter platforms, with further advances in size and energy-saving potential. While the EV market continues to grow, challenges remain to achieve widespread adoption and car makers are looking to deliver more affordable electric cars. The 800-V EV bus drive systems based on SiC have enabled faster charging and reduced EV weight, allowing car makers to produce vehicles with longer driving ranges for premium models.