Japanese automotive component manufacturer DENSO has produced its first silicon carbide (SiC) inverter. This inverter, which is used in BluE Nexus’s eAxle electric drive module, will be utilized in the Lexus RZ, an EV released in March.

SiC power semiconductors have lower power loss than silicon-based devices, the company said. SiC semiconductor inverters reduced power loss by 50% in a cruise test, demonstrating their energy efficiency and range. SiC power semiconductors using DENSO’s trench-type metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) structure decrease heat-induced power loss and increase chip output, the company said. The structure combines high voltage and low on-resistance operation. 

Based on technology jointly developed by DENSO and Toyota Central R&D Labs, the company utilizes SiC epitaxial wafers that incorporate the results of work commissioned by New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), reducing the number of crystal defects by half.

“By reducing crystal defects, the quality of SiC power semiconductor devices used in vehicles and their stable production are ensured,” the company claims.

Source: DENSO