Recently, at the 12th China Hard Technology Industry Chain Innovation Trend Summit and 100 Media Forum hosted by EEVIA, Zhan Xubiao, marketing manager from Qingchun Semiconductor Co., Ltd., delivered a keynote report entitled "The Latest Development Trend of SiC Technology for Vehicle Electric Drive & Power Supply", which deeply analyzed the revolutionary impact of SiC technology in the field of new energy vehicles. In the context of global energy transition and carbon neutrality, SiC technology has become a key driving force for the new energy vehicle industry due to its excellent performance. In 2024, the application and development of this technology will reach a new climax, with the market share soaring to 45%, indicating the revolutionary impact of SiC technology in the field of new energy vehicles. China Exportsemi will take you to review the main content of this wonderful report.
Ⅰ. the strong growth of the new energy vehicle market
In recent years, the new energy vehicle market has shown strong growth momentum. According to the data, from 2021 to 2023, China's new energy vehicle sales will be 3.5 million, 6.89 million, and 9.5 million respectively, with a market share of 31.6%. Sales are expected to reach 12 million to 13 million units in 2024, accounting for more than 45% of the market and accounting for about 60% of global production and sales. This growth trend is similar to that of the photovoltaic industry more than a decade ago, indicating that the rapid development of the new energy vehicle industry will promote the widespread application of SiC technology.
Figure: The growth momentum of the new energy vehicle industry is strong, and it is expected that the market share of new energy vehicles in China will exceed 45% in 2024
Ⅱ. Application of SiC technology in new energy vehicles
The application of SiC technology is particularly prominent in the field of new energy vehicles. According to statistics, a total of 142 domestically produced SiC models, 76 passenger cars, and about 45 new models will be released in 2023. 750V and 1200V SiC MOSFETs have become the mainstream devices for main drive applications, especially in the 400V platform, which is gradually being replaced by 750V SiC MOSFETs. The low on-resistance and low switching losses of SiC MOSFETs reduce motor controller system losses by 70% and increase driving range by about 5%.
Figure: The number of SiC traction passenger cars is increasing year by year
Ⅲ. The application of SiC technology in the charging pile industry
As a supporting facility for new energy vehicles, the charging pile industry is also an important field for the application of SiC technology. It is predicted that the market size of charging piles will reach 2.5 billion yuan in 2024. At present, the number of charging piles in China is about 900-10 million, and it is expected that by 2030, as the number of new energy vehicles reaches 60 million, the demand for charging piles will surge to a ratio of 1:1, that is, about 50 million charging piles will be added in the next 4-5 years. The rapid popularization and application of SiC technology will bring revolutionary changes to the charging pile market.
Figure: SiC is a fully competitive charging pile industry
Ⅳ. the global pattern of the SiC market and China's opportunities
Although the SiC market is still dominated by foreign companies, with the market share of the top five companies as high as 91.9%, Chinese companies are rapidly deploying and seizing market development dividends. It is estimated that by 2026, China's silicon carbide substrate production capacity is planned to be about 4.6 million pieces per year, meeting the demand of about 30 million new energy vehicles. With the rapid expansion of global SiC material production capacity, China's SiC device design and manufacturing technology has also developed rapidly, and the production capacity continues to expand.
Figure: At present, the power market demand and automotive-grade SiC devices mainly rely on imports
Ⅴ. the price decline of SiC technology and market changes
With the advancement of technology and the integration of the industrial chain, the cost of SiC will be further reduced, promoting its wider application. From September 2023 to April 2024, the average price of 1200V/40mΩ SiC MOSFETs in the market dropped from 35 yuan to 23 yuan, a decrease of 35%. In the next two to three years, the further decline in SiC prices will bring great changes to the entire power semiconductor market, further replacing the traditional silicon semiconductor market.
Figure: The domestic SiC industry chain is well established
Figure: The performance of domestic products is benchmarked against the international first-class level: 1200V
VI. Conclusions
With its wide application in the new energy vehicle and charging pile industry, SiC technology is leading a range revolution. With the maturity of the technology and the reduction of costs, SiC technology is expected to achieve larger-scale commercial application in the next few years, promoting the development of the new energy vehicle industry in a more efficient and environmentally friendly direction. As an important player in the global new energy vehicle market, China is ushering in new opportunities for the development of SiC technology and is expected to occupy a place in the global SiC market. At the media forum of E-Dimension Think Tank, Pure Semiconductor showcased the cutting-edge progress of SiC technology through technological innovation and market application, through which industrial automation is gradually shifting to a smarter and more energy-efficient future.
