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Wolfspeed - Powering the Next Generation with Silicon Carbide

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A fast EV-charging infrastructure must anticipate future requirements and customer experience expectations, including bidirectional capability and e-commerce capabilities. SiC is an alternative base material to today's silicon semiconductors. SiC material properties enable smaller, faster switching, and more energy-efficient power semiconductor devices. In turn, SiC-based power conversion solutions can be made more energy-efficient, smaller, lighter, cooler running, more rugged and reliable, and therefore be less costly and greener than any other charging option. They minimize the size and mass of the charging station while maintaining a 30-minute- or-less charge time. This makes them easier to integrate into a variety of environments while getting closest to emulating the same experience that drivers have filling their tank with gas, whether it's in their hometown or on a road trip. Most critically, SiC-based solutions are cost-effective to build, install, maintain and utilize. They also deliver efficiencies that reduce pressures on power grids with as much as 30 percent lower losses, which is essential to both municipalities and fleet owners mindful of the utility bill that comes with building out a network of charging stations. A notable SiC advantage is 2 percent higher efficiency in an EV-charging system, which translates into more than 3kW delivered to charge batteries that otherwise would be consumed by the charger itself on a 160kW charger and a >50 percent increase in power density. Overall, the system cost is lower and requires less overall cooling, as well as smaller and cheaper mechanical housing with 30 percent few components. Most of all, SiC-based solutions are ready for what fast EV- charging infrastructures will be in the future. Not only will they be able to deliver a great deal of power cost effectively, but they also can efficiently and economically support bidirectionality that enables smart grid applications—if not today then tomorrow. Additionally, they will facilitate e-commerce capabilities for retailers who want to make it easy to pass on their power costs to the drivers who are charging up. Any fast EV-charging infrastructure must be future-proof Drivers, businesses, and municipalities can benefit from SiC- based solutions today. Still, if bi-directionality is to carry the day—and it likely will—then they will be required in the future. SiC-based solutions offer flexibility and adaptability to help meet the growing demand for fast EV-charging infrastructure today, whether it's a bidirectional charging station or not. Regardless, they are the best option in any scenario: delivering the most power, quickly, in the smallest form factor and at the lowest cost to make charging sufficiently universal to overcome any range anxiety that might be slowing EV adoption. | 4 | | 18 |

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