Contest for Power and Influence: DC Charging Station Showdown by ST

In the rapidly evolving world of electric vehicles (EVs), two key players are making significant strides in the development of DC fast charging solutions. Sungrow, a leading contributor in the industry, showcased its 180 kW DC fast charger IDC180E at Intersolar Europe in Munich, 2023.

Meanwhile, STMicroelectronics is also contributing to the growth of the DC fast charging market with its efficient and smart products. The company offers solutions for Power Factor Correction (PFC), DC-DC conversion, and control unit/driving stages, all within the sub-units of 15-30kW power range.

One of ST's innovations is the STDES-PFCBIDIR evaluation board, featuring a 15 kW, three-phase, three-level Active Front End (AFE) bidirectional converter with high efficiency, nearly 99%. Similarly, the STDES-VIENNARECT evaluation board offers a 15 kW, three-phase Vienna rectifier with mixed-signal control, also boasting nearly 99% efficiency.

ST also proposes the use of SiC MOSFETs Gen 2 1200V series SCT*N120G2 and SiC Diodes 1200V STPSC*H12 for the FB-LLC resonant converter. These components are designed to enhance the efficiency and performance of DC fast chargers.

The power range for DC fast chargers covers 30-150kW, and the Asia Pacific region, particularly China, is driving the growth of the global electric vehicle charging station market. Europe is expected to be the second-largest market during the forecast period, which spans from 2020 to 2027.

The base year for the report is 2019, and during this period, the global Electric Vehicle Charging Station Market is projected to reach 30,758 thousand units by 2027. The Level 3 charging type (DC fast charging) is expected to grow fastest during the forecast period.

To address the key design considerations in DC fast charging sub-units, ST offers the STGAP2SICS, a 6kV galvanic isolated single gate driver designed to drive SiC MOSFETs. Additionally, ST provides 32-bit microcontrollers like STM32F334 and STM32G474 for power management applications. The STNRG388A digital controller, on the other hand, features a SMED (State Machine Event Driven) and a 96 MHz PLL for high output signal resolution.

The STEVAL-DPSTPFC1, another innovation from ST, uses a silicon carbide MOSFET, thyristor SCR, isolated FET driver, and a 32-bit MCU for digital power factor correction. This combination aims to improve the efficiency and performance of DC fast chargers.

As the world moves towards a more sustainable future, companies like Sungrow and STMicroelectronics are leading the charge in the development of efficient and smart DC fast charging solutions for electric vehicles.