A new type of silicon carbide chip has been launched. Can it become a life-saving elixir for electric vehicles' endurance?

Today's cars already use a lot of semiconductors. In fact, every new car today uses more than 50 semiconductors. Bosch issued a press release stating that its development of a new silicon carbide (SiC) chip will take electric transportation a big step forward.

Bosch said that in the future, chips made of silicon carbide will lead the development of power electronics technology for electric and hybrid vehicle controllers. Compared with traditional silicon chips, silicon carbide chips have better conductivity, so they can not only improve energy conversion efficiency, but also dissipate less energy in the form of heat. Harald Kroeger, a member of the Bosch board of directors, said: "Silicon carbide semiconductors can increase the power of electric motors, and for car driving, the driving range can also be increased by 6%."

Silicon carbide semiconductors set new standards in terms of volume, conversion rate and heat loss. Extra carbon atoms are embedded in the crystal structure of ultra-high purity silicon, and the chemical bonds created in the process can greatly increase the power of semiconductor chips - this is especially important for the development of electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles. In terms of power electronics technology, the use of silicon carbide semiconductors will avoid 50% of heat loss. Reduced energy loss means that the efficiency of power electronics technology is improved, and there is more electricity available for electric motors, thereby increasing battery life.

Bosch said that after the same battery is charged, cars using silicon carbide chips can travel 6% longer. For automakers, it can also reduce the size of the battery, save the cost of the most expensive component of electric vehicles, and thus reduce the selling price.

Kroeger stressed: "Silicon carbide semiconductors will change the future of electric transportation." This new technology will also further improve the weight and cost of electric vehicles: the chips can significantly reduce heat losses and can operate in a higher temperature environment, so manufacturers can save costs on power system cooling equipment.

Bosch said that microchips are now used in almost every field of automotive technology. In 2018, the average market value of microchips installed in a car was about $370. An electric car has an average of $450 more semiconductor chips than a normal car. Experts predict that if autonomous driving technology is added in the future, this value will continue to increase to $1,000. The automotive market has become one of the important growth drivers in the semiconductor field.