SiC power devices offer higher powertrain efficiency, enabling improved performance, faster charging and longer driving range.
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Zeekr, Geely's electric vehicle (EV) brand, announced today that it has signed a long-term supply agreement with US chipmaker Onsemi involving a partnership for silicon carbide (SiC) power devices.
Zeekr will use Onsemi's M3E 1200V EliteSiC MOSFET products to complement its expanding lineup of high-performance all-electric models, according to a press release.
SiC power devices offer higher powertrain efficiency, which enables improved performance, faster charging and longer driving range, according to Zeekr.
"With cutting-edge technologies such as advanced SiC, Zeekr will be able to offer electric vehicles with improved performance and even lower carbon emissions," said Andy An, CEO of the company.
Zeekr, which was officially launched as an independent company in March 2021, saw its 100,000th vehicle delivered yesterday, making it one of the fastest new car makers to reach the milestone in China.
Its first model, the Zeekr 001, was launched on April 15, 2021, and deliveries began in October 2021.
On November 1, 2022, Zeekr's second model, the Zeekr 009 MPV, was launched, and its deliveries began on January 15.
On April 12, Zeekr launched its third model, the Zeekr X, which it hopes will become the benchmark for luxury compact cars.
Zeekr delivered 71,941 vehicles in 2022 and aims to double deliveries to about 140,000 in 2023.
As EV makers build higher-performance models, higher voltage platforms require more advanced power devices.
SiC modules are an upgrade to IGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor chip) modules, a third-generation power semiconductor with higher efficiency, higher temperature resistance and higher voltage characteristics.
The module will help upgrade the electrical architecture of EVs from 400V to 800V and enable vehicles to charge from 0 to 80 percent in 10 minutes.
EV makers including Tesla, BYD, Nio, and Xpeng are already using SiC chips in their models.
Zeekr releases Europe strategy, 2 models to debut in Sweden and Netherlands in Q4
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