SiC technology enables portable electric-car charger

31st May 2016

Nat Bowers

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Industry-acclaimed SiC power electronics from STMicroelectronics has enabled the creation of ZapCharger Portable, the world’s smallest, smartest and safest electric-car charging station from start-up Zaptec. The market-first portable electric-car charger with built-in electronic transformer, ZapCharger works with any electric car on any power grid.

Excellent power-conversion capabilities of ST’s SiC MOSFET devices have enabled Zaptec engineers to design a portable, yet powerful piece of equipment. Ten times smaller and lighter than products with the comparable performance, the 3kg, 45x10x10cm charger delivers an energy efficiency of 97%.

Uncompromising on safety, the water- and weather-proof ZapCharger is fully galvanically insulated and continuously monitors the grid it is connected to. It dynamically adjusts the amount of power it delivers and can shut down immediately if it detects a fault, to protect the car. The charger offers GPRS connectivity and operates over an extended temperature range from -40 to +55°C.

Inside the ZapCharger, 32 high-voltage SiC power MOSFETs from ST deliver efficient power conversion with minimum losses. Compared with traditional (silicon) solutions, these components can sustain much higher voltages, currents and temperatures and their power-conversion circuits operate faster, enabling smaller, lighter designs, higher system efficiency and reduced cooling requirements.

Jonas Helmikstøl, COO, Zaptec, commented: “The key for us was to find a power technology with a very high efficiency so we could reduce the overall size of the charger without compromising performance. ST’s silicon-carbide offering was the perfect match. The support of ST as a strong and reliable partner helped us transform our invention into a product that dramatically changes the user experience and by allowing consumers to take their chargers anywhere eliminates ‘range anxiety” and can accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles worldwide.”

“Leveraging the exceptional efficiency of ST SiC power MOSFETs, ingenious solutions like ZapCharger that can enable drivers to safely charge their vehicles anywhere are set to catalyse the growth of the e-car market and the smart-energy ecosystem as a whole. Zaptec’s decision to rely on our advanced power technology confirms ST’s industry leadership and enabling role in the global trend towards greener and smarter living," added Philip Lolies, EMEA Vice President, Marketing & Application, STMicroelectronics.

In addition to electric-car charging, Zaptec’s patented electronic-transformer technology targets industrial, marine and space applications.