StarPower Semiconductor and Cree, Inc.,a leader in silicon carbide semiconductors, announce that Zhengzhou Yutong Group Co., Ltd. (Yutong Group), a large-scale industrial Chinese manufacturer of commercial vehicles that specializes in electric buses, is using Cree 1200V silicon carbide devices in a StarPower power module for its new, industry-leading, high-efficiency powertrain system for electric buses. The use of silicon carbide-based power solutions enable faster, smaller, lighter and more powerful electronic systems for commercial electric vehicles.
The parties are working together to accelerate the commercial adoption of silicon carbide-based inverters in electric bus applications. Upon rollout, Yutong Group will deliver their first electric bus in China to use silicon carbide in its powertrain, representing a significant advancement in providing an even more efficient e-bus to the market.
Mr. Wei Wei, General Manager, Electronic Devices Business Unit Yutong Group commented that, Cree and StarPower’s collective effort in driving the innovation of silicon carbide technology perfectly fitted with Yutong’s high-end roadmap of powertrain products. The company was committed to help the travelers experience the comfort and beauty of the world through sustainable bus travel, and the collaboration ensured that they were able to provide an even more efficient electric bus through the benefits of silicon carbide.
Coupled with StarPower’s power module technology, the use of Cree’s silicon carbide-based MOSFET in the powertrain will help extend driving range while lowering weight and conserving space.
Mr. Shen Hua, CEO of StarPower stated that, the company entered the new energy vehicle market in 2008 and, at that time, they had won the recognition from worldwide new energy vehicle customers as a leader in that space. It was a great honor for them to become the power module supplier of the Yutong powertrain system. The company is committed to bringing customers more state-of-the-art products and would continue strengthening their competitiveness.
Cree is committed to driving the global transition from silicon to silicon carbide and is currently expanding manufacturing capacity to support the expected growth of the electric vehicle marketplace. In 2022 the company plans to open the world’s largest silicon carbide fabrication facility in New York while at the same time significantly expanding silicon carbide crystal growth capacity at its operations in North Carolina. The company offers a comprehensive set of silicon carbide and GaN (Gallium nitride) power and RF (radio frequency) solutions through its Wolfspeed business unit.
Gregg Lowe, CEO of Cree commented that, their company’s technology was at the heart of the dramatic change underway in electric vehicles for the commercial and consumer markets, and they would be committed to supporting the industry as it transitions to more efficient, higher performing silicon carbide solutions. The work with StarPower and Yutong Group was a great example of how strong partnerships could deliver innovative solutions to the marketplace. As the world leader in silicon carbide, Cree has been continuing to expand capacity to meet market demands with their industry-leading power MOSFETs to help achieve a new, more efficient future.
As a leading power module supplier in the China market, StarPower provides a complete range of industry-leading power modules to customers. In 2017, StarPower’s automotive module production headquarters was founded in Shanghai China, which enables the company to provide customers even better capacity and quality guarantees.
