With respect to efficiency, minimizing
losses in power conversion ensures the
maximum amount of power is delivered
to charge the vehicle's battery. Expected
in 2025 and beyond, most of the DC
chargers released to the field will have
output power above 150kW and up to
350kW. For such high levels of power,
efficiency is a key factor. Therefore, there
is a trend to move modular architectures
from Si-based power semiconductors
to SiC solutions to improve efficiency
from 95% to around 97%. Improvements
in mechanical efficiency and reduced
weight and size have also been realized.
A system size reduction of up to 50%
or a power increase of approximately
50% in the same space can be achieved
with advanced packaging and assembly
technologies.
Of course, operating at high voltages
presents safety concerns. Addressing
these concerns extends beyond
fuses to include ground-fault relays,
thermal monitoring, and cabinet safety
interconnects.
C h a p t e r 5 | O f f b o a r d C h a r g i n g
It is important to understand
and mitigate the safety concerns
that come with charging. With
the proper protection in place,
charging experiences can avoid the
risks of fire, electrical shock, and
burns due to overheating."
Philippe Di Fulvio
Business Development Manager, EV Infrastructure,
Littelfuse
25
7 Experts on Automotive Powertrains
