Present Status and Future Prospects for Electronics in EVs/HEVs and Expectations for Wide Bandgap Semiconductor Devices

摘要

If we are to achieve the sustainable mobility society before global warming reaches the critical stage, we must develop and provide vehicles with the least environmental burden possible. The issue, in other words, is how to provide to society the Current Eco-Vehicle, the HV, and the Ultimate Eco-Vehicle, the fuel cell vehicle, quickly and at low cost. We must also further evolve and widen the use of the hybrid technology that is the core technology shared by both the HV and the fuel cell vehicle. To do so, we absolutely must reduce the loss and lower the cost of power electronics parts, especially the inverter, while making them more compact as well. Toyota is actively pursuing research and development on wide bandgap semiconductors, particularly those using SiC and GaN, as key devices for achieving those goals.But this sort of grand-scale research and development cannot be done by just one company or group of companies. We hope that the professionals gathered here from around the world will share in our commitment, and share with us their wisdom and passion, by pursuing research and development to bring a wonderful future to humankind.