Enhancing performance through significant reduction of size and weight
ROHM has announced to provide the full SiC power modules to the VENTURI Formula E team in the FIA Formula E 2017–2018 (season four), the leading racing event for electric vehicles which will start on December 2nd and 3rd in Hong Kong. This module will support further improvements in the machine’s performance under racing conditions.
As the leading developer of SiC power devices, ROHM became VENTURI’s official technology partner in season 3, and provides the world’s most advanced SiC power devices used in the inverter, which is the core of the electric vehicle powertrain.
The inverter for season four features embedded full SiC Power module, making it 43% smaller and 6 kg lighter than the inverter for season two.
ROHM will continue making technological advancement in power devices, contributing to the development of society.
Inverter Comparison
Formula E is an all-electric-powered FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) championship that began in 2014. The series has expanded to cities around the world which has to date included metropolises such as Hong Kong, Berlin or New York and champions a clean environmental approach that does not use fossil fuels. The key to victory in this racing series for the drivers is to use power as efficiently as possible by getting the most performance out of the stored energy. The advancement in Formula E technology is expected to filter through developments to general-use electric vehicles. Although this motorsports event is still in its infancy, it already enjoys the participation of automotive manufacturers from around the world and major automobile manufacturers including those from Japan have declared their intention to join the race.
For many years, ROHM has provided a highly varied lineup of products such as power supply ICs and various control ICs, along with discrete products such as power devices, current detection shunt resistors and so on for use in automobiles. ROHM is pushing forward with the latest cutting-edge development of SiC power devices, which are expected to realize dramatic loss reductions compared to conventional Si (silicon) power devices. These power devices will be used more and more on electric vehicle (EV) motors and inverters.
The Advantage by Using SiC Products
The SiC power module used in the inverter of the VENTURI Formula E team racing car achieves a large power throughput, owing to the development of a new package with an improved internal module structure, as well as an optimized thermal management. Compared to conventional IGBT modules with similar current ratings, this module reduces switching losses by 75% (at a chip temperature of 150°C). This contributes to the energy efficiency for the whole application. Also, having more compact peripheral components throughout the high-frequency drive, as well as the effect of reductions in switching losses contributes to a more compact cooling system as well.
By using this full SiC power module in the inverter section (the powertrain core), it makes the inverter 43% smaller and 6kg lighter than in season two. Even compared to the previous inverter used in season three, it is 30% smaller and 4kg lighter.
Source: https://www.rohm.com
