Automotive power module for electric vehicle: market, product and features

Yole Intelligence reports the automotive power module market for xEV (Electric Vehicles) represented a market value of US$807 million in 2020 and forecast it to grow to US$3.59 billion by 2026. High current and high-voltage handling power transistors are the key components of automotive modules. Silicon MOSFETs and IGBTs though less costing, but are hefty and generate heat with limitations in switching speed. Today's latest automotive modules use siliconcarbide (SiC) and also Gallium Nitride (GaN) transistors. SiC transistors handle higher current density, and are much smaller in size, generate less heat and switch at higher speeds compared to silicon MOSFETs/IGBTs. They are also lot more power efficient. The cost of SiC devices are also falling. Siliconcarbide is preferred for high-power applications whereas gallium nitride is a good choice for low-power applications. The key use of automotive power modules in electric vehicles is for charging batteries and for traction inverters for driving motor. The general range of power in electric cars is 80 KW to 200 KW. And they should handle voltages in the range of 800 V 1200 V and currents in the range of 200 A to 500 A for traction. What's most challenging is, ensuring high level of safety of everything and very high reliability. The safety not only includes the device failure, but also against typical automotive ris...