McLaren Applied is advancing closer to full production of Inverter Platform Generation 5 (IPG5) – an 800 V Silicon Carbide inverter with class-leading efficiency and power density. Moving to the engineering verification phase, McLaren Applied is now supplying production-intent design hardware to customers and partners for continued development and testing. Harnessing IPG5, OEMs can develop vehicles with greater ranges, faster charging times, and better acceleration, at a comparable cost with improved sustainability benefits.
The production-intent design of IPG5 will make its public debut at the Future Propulsion Conference 2022, (FPC 2022) at the UK’s National Motorcycle Museum.
IPG5 is an 800V Silicon Carbide (SiC) inverter that supports ultra-fast charging and delivers class-leading powertrain efficiency. Based in Woking, UK, McLaren Applied is actively supporting the increasing demand for electrification and high-efficiency power electronics applications in the automotive market, as well as the commercial vehicle, aerospace, and marine sectors. McLaren Applied has been pushing the boundaries of inverter technology for over 10 years, through high-performance automotive and motorsport applications, culminating in a fifth-generation inverter that takes cutting-edge development from Formula 1 and optimizes the technology for the automotive market.
IPG5 can power electric motors to over 350 kW peak, 250 kW continuous, at an unrivaled weight and volume of 5.5 kg and 3.79 L respectively. It has been designed for automotive applications, including direct drive, that is capable of operating high-speed motors efficiently and adhere to ISO 26262 ASIL-D standards.
The 800 V architecture supports the next generation of electric vehicles, offering lighter electric cabling and ultra-fast charging. Through enabling a significant increase in switching frequency, the SiC technology allows the use of a faster, more efficient, and lightweight drivetrain, including inverter, motor, and battery systems. It also switches more efficiently than conventional inverters, producing less heat and enabling a smaller cooling system – all of which reduce the weight and cost of the drivetrain. The increased drivetrain efficiency allows a reduction in battery size – typically the most expensive single component in a battery electric vehicle, which delivers further cost, weight, and sustainability benefits.
For systems integrators, at 3.79 L, IPG5 packages are easily due to cutting-edge volumetric power density – a cost-effective contrast to conventional inverters. The inverter can be offered without a case, which offers huge flexibility when packaging an off-the-shelf component into a custom system. McLaren Applied is currently delivering prototype units to customers ahead of volume production from 2024.
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