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Understanding Thermal Challenges in EV Charging Applications

📅 Date:

✍️ Author: Jeff Smoot

🏭 Vertical: Electrical Equipment

🏢 Organizations: CUI Devices, DigiKey Electronics


As EVs emerge as the dominant mode of transportation, factors such as battery range and even quicker charging rates will play pivotal roles in sustaining the global economy. Enhancements in EV charging infrastructure will necessitate advancements across various domains, with thermal management standing out as a key area requiring technological evolution.

By shedding weight and size constraints, DC chargers can seamlessly incorporate additional components to enhance both their current throughput and operating voltage. These chargers leverage state-of-the-art semiconductor devices for rectifying power, alongside filters and power resistors, all of which generate substantial heat during operation. While the contributions of filters and resistors to heat dissipation are noteworthy, the predominant heat emitter in an EV charging system is the Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT), a semiconductor device that has witnessed increased adoption in recent decades. This robust component has unlocked numerous possibilities in the charging domain, yet ensuring its adequate cooling remains a significant concern.

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