Partnership with 800V silicon carbide semiconductor company Cree
Securing unit price competitiveness through mass production of SiC inverters

Delphi Technologies announced that it is mass-producing 800V silicon carbide (SiC) inverters, a component that plays a key role in both high-efficiency next-generation electric vehicles and hybrids.

This new inverter raises the electric system to 800V to extend the driving range and reduces charging time by 50% compared to the currently used 400V system.

This technology, which supports multi-voltage platforms, is an advanced version of the high-voltage inverter introduced by Delphi.

Delphi Technologies 800V inverters use state-of-the-art silicon carbide MOSFET semiconductors (silicon carbide-based metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor wide bandgap technology).

Delphi recently secured a $2.7 billion customer with a global OEM to mass-produce this technology for over eight years. It is expected to launch in 2022 and will initially be offered for high-performance vehicles operating at up to 800V.
In addition, Delphi stated, "Through a partnership with Cree, a leading company in the silicon carbide semiconductor field, we are improving the long-distance driving, reduced charging times, and efficiency of next-generation electric vehicles." Delphi Technologies inverters use Cree's Wolfspeed® silicon carbide-based MOSFETs.

According to IHS, up to 45% of global automobile production will be electrified by 2025, with approximately 46 million electric vehicles sold annually, and this figure is estimated to increase to up to 57% (approximately 62 million vehicles annually) by 2030.

Inverters are considered the most valuable electrification components, and their efficiency has a transformative impact on many aspects of automotive performance.

Delphi CEO Richard F. Dow “Doubling the voltage from the current standard 400V would bring a wide range of benefits to both car drivers and manufacturers,” said Dauch. “We developed this technology to simplify multi-voltage strategies as automakers extend the driving range of electric and hybrid vehicles.”
At the heart of the newly introduced inverter is a patented Viper power switch that combines high integration with a unique double-sided cooling function.

With this decisive feature, we were able to create a product that is 40% lighter and 30% more compact than competitor inverter technology.

As the most recent addition to the Viper power switch lineup, it replaces conventional silicon with silicon carbide, a high-bandgap semiconductor capable of very fast switching and operation at much higher temperatures.

Richard F. Dauch added, “A faster switching speed alone makes the motor faster, smaller, and lighter, providing superior efficiency and range. This is an added benefit to the many advantages of switching to 800V.”