Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is bracing for the future by transforming into an electric-first business under the brand’s Reimagine corporate strategy. Aiming to become a carbon net zero automaker by 2039, JLR expanded its partnership with Wolfspeed to secure the supply of advanced silicon carbide semiconductors to power the next wave of electrified Range Rovers, Defenders, Discoveries, and Jaguar cars.
“The energy efficiency of silicon carbide will play an essential role as Jaguar Land Rover pursues its zero carbon goals and as the world transitions to an all-electric transportation future,” said Gregg Lowe, Wolfspeed President & CEO.
Improving EV Performance & Driving Range
Wolfspeed is among the leaders in 400V to 800V electric propulsion systems. The company first collaborated with the Jaguar TCS Racing team in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship for the second-gen Jaguar I-Type 5 electric racing car equipped with advanced silicon carbide technology.
Wolfspeed claims silicon carbide IGBTs (Insulated-Gate Bipolar Transistors) and MOSFETs (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors) offer better thermal conductivity, have lower switching losses, generate less heat, and require more lightweight designs than comparable silicon-only semiconductors for aerospace or automotive applications.
According to JLR, Wolfspeed’s silicone carbide chips will power the inverters of electric Jaguars debuting in 2023, while Range Rover vehicles will get their taste of silicon carbide technology from 2024 onward. Moreover, JLR said its next generation of EVs will offer more extended driving ranges and better power efficiency with Wolfspeed’s proprietary semiconductors.
Manufacturing Footprint
Wolfspeed opened its new silicon carbide manufacturing facility in Marcy, New York, in April 2022. It’s the world’s largest 200mm silicon carbide fabrication plant. The company is also building a multi-billion materials manufacturing facility in Chatham County, North Carolina, to expand its silicon carbide production capacity to cope with increasing demand.
