Finnish technology company Kempower has unveiled plans to introduce a new charger platform across its product range, leveraging silicon carbide (SiC) technology. The company asserts that this new SiC generation maintains high performance while ensuring reliability akin to its previous designs. Additionally, the platform is tailored to accommodate heavy-duty charging, aligning with Kempower’s future objectives.
SiC technology is renowned for its superior efficiency in electronic devices compared to traditional pure silicon (Si). This is attributed to its higher conductivity and switching frequencies, resulting in reduced energy loss as heat. Moreover, SiC components can endure higher temperatures, enabling the development of smaller cooling systems. Kempower aims to capitalize on these advantages, striving for energy savings, weight reduction, and cost efficiency.
Jussi Vanhanen, Chief Market Officer at Kempower, highlights the benefits of the new technology, citing grid-friendly electricity flow with minimal total harmonic distortion (THD) levels, increased efficiency, and an extended operating temperature range. THD, which measures energy loss during charging, is significantly reduced with SiC technology.
Vanhanen underscores the enhanced efficiency and power factor of up to 0.98 PF, suggesting potential cost savings in electrical infrastructure while maintaining charging power levels for electric vehicles. He also notes improved electrical compatibility with existing sites and increased grid resilience for large EV charger installations.
Kempower’s focus on larger installations reflects the evolving landscape of electric vehicle charging, encompassing not only passenger cars but also trucks, buses, and heavy-duty machinery with capacities of up to 400 kW. The company’s chargers are already deployed in various applications, including e-buses in Denmark and Estonia’s petrol station network operated by Terminal Group. Additionally, Kempower supplies charging infrastructure for the truck charging joint venture Milence.
Manufacturing of the new SiC charger platform will take place in Europe and North America, with facilities located in Lahti, Finland, and Durham, North Carolina. Initial deliveries are slated to commence in Europe this quarter, with North American markets expected to follow suit in the second quarter of 2024.
