Page 101 - NEW Armstrong Book - 2

High-Density SiC Power
Modules Meet Formula E
Challenges
By Maurizio Di Paolo Emilio
T
his article, based on a presentation held at PCIM Europe Digital Days 2021 by Milad Maleki, proj- ect manager at Hitachi ABB Power Grids, focuses
dates specific requirements that do not apply to commercial EVs. An example is the so-called attack mode, introduced some years ago to make races more spectacular and attrac- tive. This feature, which can be activated when the vehicle crosses a specified track on the race circuit, provides an additional 35 kW of power to the motor for a certain period. The use of attack mode, monitored on the Halo device through a blue light indication, needs to be properly compensated for during the race by energy management and requires a care- ful design of the relevant power modules (PMs).
Formula E requirements
As a competitive challenge, Formula E is mainly focused on achieving excellent performance from the vehicles’ PMs
on the relevant role of high-density SiC power modules in Formula E, the most advanced and challenging competition for race electric vehicles. It provides details on the Hitachi ABB Power Grids RoadPak power module, successfully employed in Formula E.
Formula E, an electric-powered race-car championship that began in 2014 and was rebranded as the ABB FIA Formula E Championship after ABB signed on as spon- sor in 2018, requires fully optimized power semiconductor modules, such as the latest generation of power converters. Because its cars compete at public events, Formula E man-
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