Value creation by power electronics in vehicle electrification

Inverter based motor drives have improved energy efficiency in a wide range of vehicle applications. Research and development in power electronics have contributed to the trend of vehicle electrification. Advancements in multiple disciplines are expected to support this trend into the future. This article will present the challenges of today’s power electronic systems and derive the necessary areas of improvement. As part of this, voltage levels and semi conductor structures will be reviewed. In a second step technology trends like wide band gap materials, robust interconnection technologies and advanced cooling concepts will be discussed. Finally an outlook will be given on how the different technology trends can create value in future power electronic systems for vehicle electrification and which limits have to be overcome to fully utilize the capabilities of each technology.