The deal with Durham, N.C.-based Wolfspeed Inc. is part of Jaguar Land Rover’s “Reimagine” strategy to convert its supply chain, products and operations to net-zero carbon emissions by 2039. Jaguar Land Rover will utilize the Wolfspeed silicon carbide technology in its vehicles’ inverter, which manages the transfer of power from the battery to the electric motors.
The first Range Rover vehicles to feature the Wolfspeed silicon carbide semiconductor technology will be available by 2024, the company said. The new all-electric Jaguar brand will enter the market in 2025.
“Wolfspeed is proud to partner with Jaguar Land Rover, supporting its bold commitment to electrify its iconic brands by using silican carbide’s superior performance, efficiency and range,” Gregg Lowe, Wolfspeed president and CEO, said in a statement. “The energy efficiency of silicon carbide will play an essential role as Jaguar Land Rover pursues its own zero carbon goals, and as the world transitions to an all-electric transportation future.”
The two companies already were partners on the Jaguar TCS Racing team which competes in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. The Jaguar TCS team accomplished two race victories and a pole position in the latest season of the international EV race care series.
Wolfspeed began its transition from silicon to silicon carbide materials several years ago, saying the latter offers more high-performance and efficiency benefits.
“By developing that into a strategic partnership as part of our Reimagine strategy, we can integrate Wolfspeed’s advanced Silicon Carbide technology into our next generation electric vehicles, delivering extended range and performance capabilities for our clients, “ Jaguar Land Rover CEO Thierry Bolloré said.
The four-year transformation which Wolfspeed began with Lowe’s arrival in 2017 culminated in the company changing its name from Cree Inc. last year. Cree had named its silicon carbide materials and semiconductor device unit as Wolfspeed in 2015, according to reports.
In September, Wolfspeed announced it would build the state-of-the-act materials manufacturing plant in Chatham County, North Carolina. The investment in new manufacturing could expand its silicon carbide production capacity by 10-fold, according to the company.
The facility will primarily produce 200mm Silicon Carbide wafers, which are 1.7x larger than 150mm wafers, translating into more chips per wafer and ultimately, lower device costs.
Phase one construction on the Chatham County plant is anticipated to be completed in 2024 and cost approximately $1.3 billion. Between 2024 and the end of the decade, the company will add additional capacity as needed, eventually occupying more than one million square feet on the 445-acre site, according to Wolfspeed.
Silicon carbide is a chemical compound containing both silicon and carbon. Long used in abrasives and for high-stress applications such as braking, it is considered ideal in electricity for handling higher voltage.
-- -- --
(Rod Walton, senior editor for EnergyTech, is a 14-year veteran of covering the energy industry both as a newspaper and trade journalist. He can be reached at [email protected]).
Follow us on Twitter @EnergyTechNews_ and @rodwaltonelp and on LinkedIn
