Power Management

Japan Reduces Power Conversion Equipment Using SiC Diodes

August 9th

Japanese researchers at AIST and Toshiba have greatly reduced the power conversion equipment required by using higher frequency SiC diodes that operate at around 2khz. (Normal power inverters operate at 500Hz.) They have produced a prototype with a output of 300kVA. They also have enhanced the gate transistor that is normally part of a inverter.

Silicon Diodes,
Power Management,
Japan

Improved power management for hybrid vehicles

June 22nd

Fuji Electric and Furukawa Electric are working on a power chip for hybrids that does not involve the use of silicon.

The power chip in a hybrid vehicle controls the efficiency of the battery use, and is currently limited by the use of silicon in such chips.

Silicon,
Power Management,
Energy,
Electric Cars