Wide Bandgap Power Electronics: The New EV Battery

The new IDTechEx report "Power Electronics for Electric Vehicles 2023-2033" shows demand for electric vehicle (EV) power electronics will increase dramatically in the next ten years. This will primarily be driven by rapid growth in the BEV car market where IDTechEx predicts a 15% CAGR globally over the next decade. Currently, the weighted-average battery capacity of BEV cars is increasing in all regions, piling pressure on battery supply chains, and creating uncertainty. The result is that drive cycle efficiency must come to the forefront of powertrain design, meaning the time has come for high voltage wide bandgap (WBG) power electronics.

 

Improving drive cycle efficiency means that less precious energy stored in the battery is wasted when accelerating the vehicle, leading to less battery or improved range. New wide bandgap (WBG) switching devices, such as SiC MOSFETs and GaN HEMTs, are key avenues for this, and help drive 800V platform adoption for further efficiency gains. Si IGBTs are the incumbent today, with a transition to SiC MOSFET underway. Around the corner is GaN, a technology at a lower commercial readiness level, yet some of the first exciting announcements of high voltage GaN inverters show promise.

 

Based off the new IDTechEx report, this webinar will cover: