General Motors today announced a strategic agreement with Wolfspeed, Inc. to develop and provide silicon carbide power device solutions for the automaker’s future EVs.
The material will be adopted for use in power electronics contained within GM’s upcoming Ultium Drive units for its next-generation EVs. The company says that silicon carbide enables greater efficiency resulting in longer ranges, while also lowering weight and conserving space. The material will also allow vehicles to work across the voltage spectrum, from 400V to 800V and even higher.
“Our agreement with Wolfspeed represents another step forward in our transition to an all-electric future,” said Shilpan Amin, GM vice president, Global Purchasing and Supply Chain. “Customers of EVs are looking for greater range, and we see silicon carbide as an essential material in the design of our power electronics to meet customer demand. Working with Wolfspeed will help ensure we can deliver on our vision of an all-electric future.”
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The material will be provided domestically at Wolfspeed’s Mohawk Valley Fab facility in Marcy, New York. Already the world’s largest silicon carbide fabrication facility, the company will start expanding capacity in 2022 to meet EV demand.
“Our agreement with GM further demonstrates the automotive industry’s commitment to delivering innovative EV solutions to the market and using the latest advances in power management to improve overall vehicle performance,” said Gregg Lowe, CEO of Wolfspeed. “This agreement ensures long-term supply of silicon carbide to GM to help them deliver on their promise of an all-electric future.”
