Onsemi has expanded its EliteSiC power integrated modules (PIMs) with nine new devices for enabling bidirectional charging capabilities in DC ultra-fast electric vehicle (EV) chargers and energy storage systems (ESS). The EliteSiC devices are based on the company’s Gen3 M3S SiC MOSFET technology, which claims the industry’s lowest switching losses and highest efficiency.
(Source: onsemi)
The PIMs feature scalable output power from 25 kW to 100 kW, which enables multiple DC fast charging and energy storage systems platforms including bidirectional charging. They are available in industry-standard F1 and F2 packages with the option of a pre-applied thermal interface material (TIM) and press-fit pins.
The silicon carbide-based devices are reported to improve system cost with higher efficiency and simpler cooling mechanisms that can reduce size by up to 40% and weight by up to 52% compared to traditional silicon-based IGBT solutions. The result is smaller and lighter charging platforms to develop a “scalable network of DC fast chargers that can charge electric vehicle batteries up to 80% in as little as 15 minutes,” onsemi said.
This is significant because nearly half of U.S. consumers said the reason for not purchasing an EV is the access to charging and the ability to charge quickly, according to J.D. Power’s 2023 Electric Vehicle Consideration Study.
The increased demand for electricity “will also put a tremendous strain on current electrical grids, potentially overloading them,” onsemi said. However, bidirectional charging is emerging as a solution to implement vehicle-to-grid, which allows for regular battery charging and the ability to use an EV as an energy storage system to power homes when needed, the company said.
The PIM devices support key topologies such as multi-level T-type neutral point clamp (TNPC), half-bridge and full-bridge, which gives designers the flexibility to pick the right PIM for power conversion stages in their DC fast charging or ESS applications. In addition, onsemi offers advanced piecewise linear electrical circuit simulation (PLECS) models through its Self-Service PLECS model Generator and application simulation with the Elite Power Simulator, introduced earlier this year. Check out the white paper to learn more about the power converter technologies for DC fast and ultra-fast charging.
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