Large-Scale Adoption of Silicon Carbide in the Automotive Sector: What is Missing?

Abstract:
This paper tackles the hurdles hindering the adoption on a large scale of silicon carbide in power electronics, especially in the automotive sector. The main point is that a lack of knowledge in terms of reliability as well as the intrinsically poor short-circuit withstanding capability make the present largely uncertain, and the adoption of the SiC technology is consequently delayed. The conclusion is that cost-breaking actions by the big world players will soon lower the cost, although never at the silicon level, but sufficiently to eventually activate dynamic sectors like the automotive one in the coming 4-5 years.