ROHM Signs Long-Term Supply Agreement for SiC Power Components with Vipertech

   ("ROHM"), a leading company in the field of SiC (Silicon Carbide) power components, signed a long-term supply cooperation agreement for SiC power components with Vitesco, a major global manufacturer of advanced drive technology and electrification solutions, on 19 June 2023. ("Vitesco"), a major global manufacturer of advanced drive technology and electrification solutions, on 19 June 2023, signing a long-term cooperation agreement for the supply of SiC power components. Under the agreement, the transaction volume between the two companies between 2024 and 2030 will exceed 130 billion yen.

    This cooperation was made possible by the establishment of the Electric Vehicle Power Electronics Technology Development Partnership in 2020, based on which the two companies have been working closely on the development of SiC power components for electric vehicles and inverter products using SiC chips.

    As a result of this joint development, Vitesco plans to begin supplying advanced inverters using Rohm SiC chips as early as 2024, and these inverters have already been adopted in the products of two major electric vehicle manufacturers, ahead of the original target.

    SiC power components are an important component in the development of EV inverters, helping to achieve more efficient power electronics designs. In particular, SiC chips are a key technology for electric vehicles, which need to support high voltages and use power efficiently to extend range and reduce battery size.

    Through this long-term supply partnership, Vitesco will be able to secure production capacity for SiC chips, which are strategically important for electric vehicle development.

    In the future, the two companies will continue to work together to further improve efficiency and enable faster charging of electric vehicles through SiC.

    Andreas Wolf, CEO of Vitesco, said: "The supply co-operation agreement with Rohm will be an important cornerstone for securing Vitesco's future SiC production capacity. We have already gained a lot of experience through our previous development co-operation. I would like to see the co-operation not only continue, but also further strengthened. "

    Kazuhide (Dr.) Ino, CFO, Managing Director of ROHM Co., Ltd. said, "SiC power components are an important technology for achieving higher efficiency in the fast-growing electric vehicle market, and Rohm has an industry-advanced development and manufacturing system in the SiC market. I believe that by establishing a deeper business relationship with Vitesco, an important strategic partner, will help Rohm to further penetrate the market, and in addition, Rohm is expected to gain a market share of more than 30%. "

    Although the device is small, the role is particularly large

    SiC dielectric breakdown strength is 10 times that of traditional Si (silicon), the forbidden bandwidth is three times that of Si, and has better heat dissipation characteristics, thus significantly reducing power loss, miniaturisation of the application equipment, as well as in the high-voltage and high-temperature environment, stable drive performance is very good.

    With these characteristics, compared with conventional Si, power electronic equipment using SiC power components can further reduce the loss in the power conversion process. Especially at high voltages such as 800 V, the efficiency of SiC inverters is significantly higher than that of Si inverters. In electric vehicle charging applications, the demand for SiC products is expanding globally, as the higher the voltage, the shorter the time required for a full charge. In addition, the use of SiC products helps to extend the range of electric vehicles and reduce battery size, as the power from electric vehicle batteries can be utilised more efficiently.