Automotive Power Electronics: India Launches Indigenous 30 kW Silicon Carbide-Based Integrated Drive System for EVs

An indigenously developed 30 kW Silicon Carbide (SiC) based Integrated Drive System for four-wheeler electric vehicles (EVs) was launched at IIT Madras. The launch was performed by S. Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

The compact, liquid-cooled unit integrates a motor and inverter. It was developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), IIT Madras, and Lucas TVS under MeitY's National Mission on Power Electronics Technology (NaMPET) initiatives from 2024.

The system uses SiC MOSFET power modules and targets electric propulsion in four-wheelers. It provides programmable torque-speed characteristics and high overload capability.

Key features include:
- High starting torque and wide operating speed range
- Configurable torque-speed characteristics
- High torque overload capability, particularly in the high-speed region
- Higher overload capability than a conventional three-phase Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (IPMSM)
- Wider speed range (3-4 times the base speed)
- High efficiency across a wide speed (up to 3 times base speed) and torque range
- Intermittent overload capability
- Improved Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) and Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) behavior
- Low acoustic noise and low torque ripple

System specifications: