Direct answer

Research shows that SiC wafers play a key role in electric vehicles, improving efficiency, endurance and charging speed.

SiC wafers are used in main inverters, DC-DC converters and on-board chargers to significantly reduce energy consumption.

Evidence shows that SiC has higher temperature tolerance and efficiency than silicon and is suitable for high voltage systems.

Market trends show that demand for SiC is growing rapidly and major automakers have begun to adopt it.

Research notes

Introduction: The electric Vehicle Revolution and the importance of SiC wafers

The automotive industry is undergoing a transition to electric vehicles (EVs), driven by the need for sustainable transportation and global carbon emissions regulations. On April 16, 2025, the growth of the EV market requires advanced technologies to improve performance, efficiency and battery life, and silicon carbide (SiC) wafers are one of the key innovations. This article takes an in-depth look at how SiC wafers are revolutionizing the EV industry, their key applications, benefits, and future prospects.

Definition and characteristics of SiC wafers

SiC wafers are thin sheets of silicon and carbon compounds used to make semiconductors. Compared to conventional silicon wafers, SiC has a wide band gap of 3.2 eV, a high thermal conductivity of 4.9 W/cm-K, and can withstand high voltages (up to several thousand volts) and high temperatures (over 175°C). These characteristics make it particularly suitable for high-power, high-frequency applications in EVs, such as traction inverters and fast charging systems.

Specific applications in electric vehicles

The main applications of SiC wafers in EV include:

 Main inverter: converts the battery's direct current to alternating current to drive the traction motor. Studies have shown that SiC reduces on-off and switching losses, especially under partial loads (common in urban driving, loads as low as 10%), and can improve efficiency by 6-10% (SiC Applications Transforming the Automotive Industry).

 DC-DC converter: depressurize high voltages (such as 400V or 800V) to power a 12V or 48V auxiliary system. SiC's high efficiency and low switching losses make its equipment more compact and suitable for high-frequency operation.

 Car Charger (OBC) : Charge the battery from AC power. SiC supports switching frequencies of hundreds of kHz, reduces magnetic component size, and doubles power density (The Silicon Carbide Race Begins).

Key benefits of SiC wafers

 Extended battery life: SiC extends battery life by reducing power loss. For example, compared to Silicon, SiC can achieve The same battery life requires a lower capacity, lighter weight (The Silicon Carbide Race Begins).

 Faster charging: SiC supports high voltage fast charging infrastructure, reducing charging time to a level comparable to refueling in conventional fuel vehicles.

 Higher efficiency: At high voltages (such as 800V to 1000V), SiC is more efficient, reducing energy waste and heat generation, and is 10% more efficient than IGBTs (Silicon Carbide: Coming of Age in Electric Vehicle Powertrains).

Lower system costs: Despite the high initial cost of SiC (about 2-3 times that of silicon), its efficiency gains reduce battery and cooling system requirements, reducing system costs in the long term.

 Reduced weight and size: SiC's high performance allows for the use of thinner wires, reducing wiring weight and cost. SiC doubles the power density of the on-board charger in an 800V system.

 Increased power density: SiC operates at high switching frequencies and high temperatures, making it suitable for compact EV designs and improving overall system performance.

 Simplified cooling requirements: SiC's low heat generation reduces the need for complex cooling systems, reducing design complexity and cost.

Conclusion: The future prospect of SiC wafer

SiC wafers are leading the future development of EVs. By improving efficiency, range and performance, SiC technology not only makes EVs more attractive to consumers, but also paves the way for a more sustainable automotive industry. As technology advances and production scales up, SiC will become an integral component of the next generation of EVs, supporting faster charging, longer battery life and higher overall efficiency.