Discussing the Wide-Bandgap Marketplace

Got it, got it, Olof.

Now, when you think about it, though, I see multiple facets to it.

The first one is the voltages, right? The voltages are continuing to go up.

gallium nitride is showing that it can perform at high voltages but silicon carbide still has a little bit more of a robustness aspect at those higher voltages maybe a little bit more simplicity to the system design because the gallium nitride you also have that aspect of the switching frequency which is the other aspect to bring into it now some applications are very very well addressed by high switching speeds and some can take it or leave it, you know, so there's the voltages, there's the switching speeds, and then you have to start thinking about system integration.

I've started to see designs that have got silicon, silicon carbide, and gallium nitride all in the same circuit.

So I'll let you start this time, Olaf.

Tell us what you think about that whole aspect of the multiple aspects that the designers have to consider.

Yeah,

I think...

This is, from my observation point of view, definitely, there is a coexistence of these kind of different technologies.

And the technology adaption is now moving on.

But at the end, I will say this system concept and the value for the end application is key and therefore there will be maybe sometimes even a mixture.

Let me give you one example about onboard charging.

So think about this one.

When we have the first, I will say, e-cars coming up, then onboard charger was mainly started with silicon-based, I will say, portfolio in the onboard charger, then moving to silicon carbide, which is, I would not say it's state of the art, but that is a general thing from my experience observation.

But We see also now more and more when we talk to car OEMs, they consider and maybe they already implemented also gallium nitride topologies.

But maybe, Filippo, from the more technical point of view, I would

like to add your comments.

If I can complement what already stated by Olaf, I see that there is not a key technology swimming in a specific environment, right? So you can mix everything for getting the best performance at system level.

Of course, the new topologies are requiring a mix of the usage.

Just for providing you an example, mentioned by Olaf was the OBC.

OBC, for increasing the power level, you can introduce topologies that are using both technologies, silicon and silicon carbide.

So for the PFC totem pole bridgeless, because you need fast switching on the fast leg and slow switching on the slow leg, right? So in this case you can mix WBG technology with the traditional silicon MOSFET, right? Then you have absolutely the low voltage on the simple certification for the auxiliary DC-DC.

If you approach the OBC with the combo aux DC-DC converter, of course you need from the main high voltage battery to go down to the 12 volts for feeding the basic electronics inside the car.

And over there you have the low-voltage section which still silicon MOSFET can run an important role, but also in the new years, in the coming years, sorry, also gallium nitride can be an important technology or performer there.