German multinational auto parts technology company ZF offers 800-volt components for greater efficiency in electric vehicles

Silicon carbide power electronics reveal themselves as semiconductor technology for greater efficiency and improved range, and German multinational ZF is preparing launches for large-scale production to serve premium electric vehicle manufacturers in China and Europe. Looking for a job? Resume and work card in hand to compete for the 322 job vacancies opened yesterday to work in maintenance activities

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Automotive manufacturers around the world are responding to the need for faster charging times for battery electric vehicles, with premium and sports electric vehicles especially, high voltage vehicle power supplies are now designed for 800 volts instead of current ones. 400 volt systems.

To meet the demand, the multinational company ZF reinforces this design trend with the development and production of corresponding components for the electric drive line. At the core is the power electronics that uses silicon carbide as a semiconductor.

“It is becoming evident that the 800-volt architecture will establish itself in future electric or premium electric sports cars, while the 400-volt architecture will remain the standard in the larger scale and volume market,” says Bert Hellwig, Head of Power Systems Development. electric drives from ZF. "For years, we've provided 400-volt technology for high-volume production, and this year we're preparing to start production for 800-volt applications."

Charging time influences the efficiency of electric vehicles

Charging time plays an important role in the ease of use of electric vehicles. For electric cars to become sustainable for reaching longer distances, the battery must be able to reach its almost fully charged capacity within an hour.

A fundamental problem with fast charging is the generation of heat by higher currents. This requires the cable to be thicker or cooled. The solution is an vehicular power supply architecture that was designed for higher performance from the ground up. For this reason, many EV manufacturers are planning future vehicles with higher 800-volt systems.

An essential component of drives for electric vehicles is the power electronics, whose main task is to convert different types of electrical energy. “We supplied a Chinese manufacturer with the complete electric drive, including power electronics, for various models. For a European sports car manufacturer, the German multinational ZF supplies power electronics for high voltage application.” Other premium production releases are already planned. “By designing power electronics for 800 volts, we can expand the synergies between passenger cars and other applications,” says Hellwig.

ZF is using a new chip technology for the first time for application in premium electric vehicles. Rather than transistors silicon, silicon carbide components are used. The experience and knowledge gained from this application will be continually incorporated into the development of larger production volumes.