Modeling and Evaluation of SiC Inverters for EV Applications

Hui Su, Lijun Zhang (), Dejian Meng (), Yisu Li, Na Han and Yuxin Xia
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Hui Su: School of Automotive Enjineering, Tongji University, Jiading District, Shanghai 201804, China
Lijun Zhang: School of Automotive Enjineering, Tongji University, Jiading District, Shanghai 201804, China
Dejian Meng: School of Automotive Enjineering, Tongji University, Jiading District, Shanghai 201804, China
Yisu Li: Leadrive Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai 201203, China
Na Han: Leadrive Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai 201203, China
Yuxin Xia: Leadrive Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai 201203, China

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 19, 1-13

Abstract: In this paper, the efficiency benefits of adopting Silicon–Carbide devices for electric vehicle applications are studied. A hybrid time and frequency domain-based simulation tool is developed for the Silicon–Carbide (SiC) traction inverter modeling. The tool provides steady-state results with comparable accuracy to standard time domain methods and achieves a factor of thousand reductions in time when simulating a large number of operating points. Especially, the impact of temperature-dependent device losses has been considered to ensure the simulation precision. Next, a vehicle-level modeling is developed to evaluate the impact of the inverter efficiency on the endurance mileage increase of vehicles. It is found that, by applying Silicon–Carbide devices, the energy consumption of the inverter can be greatly reduced by 3/4 under WLTC (World light light-duty vehicle test cycle) profile. It can be transformed into a mileage endurance increase of 3–5%. The impact of the drive cycle profile and the vehicle’s drag coefficient on the endurance mileage are evaluated as well. In addition, an economic/cost model is developed for selecting the “optimal” chip paralleling number for Silicon–Carbide power modules. Interestingly, the results indicate that this number should be slightly overdesigned to achieve the most cost saving from the system point of view.

Keywords: Silicon–Carbide (SiC); Insulated-Gate-Bipolar-Transistor (IGBT); electric vehicle (EV); power module; traction inverter; endurance mileage; drive cycle (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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