The Japanese manufacturer has announced that it has created the world's first inverter made of silicon carbide (SiC) diodes.
Inverters are used in vehicles equipped with an electric engine in order to convert the electric current produced by the batteries and then transfer it to the engine. Nissan's newly-developed technology reduces the size of these inverters while improving their reliability.
Thanks to its greater heat resistance, the SiC diode inverter is much more efficient. Reducing the diodes' surface by 70% compared to conventional diodes increases their energy efficiency by 20%. Inverters using this technology see their weight and size shrink by 15 to 20%.
The SiC diode inverter is currently being tested in a Nissan X-TRAIL with fuel cells.
photo:Nissan
Inverters are used in vehicles equipped with an electric engine in order to convert the electric current produced by the batteries and then transfer it to the engine. Nissan's newly-developed technology reduces the size of these inverters while improving their reliability.
Thanks to its greater heat resistance, the SiC diode inverter is much more efficient. Reducing the diodes' surface by 70% compared to conventional diodes increases their energy efficiency by 20%. Inverters using this technology see their weight and size shrink by 15 to 20%.
The SiC diode inverter is currently being tested in a Nissan X-TRAIL with fuel cells.
photo:Nissan