Charging time is still the biggest throwback for most electric cars, even though time, cars need to charge is getting shorter, mostly thanks to more powerful chargers and car components, enabling charging at, for instance 350 kilowatts. There is, however another solution, emerging, which might also cut the time of charging significantly. It has been recently presented by Porsche with the latest model, Taycan, but soon it might also move into other cars.

What we are talking about is 800-volt systems for charging cars. Currently – apart from Taycan – all cars are using 4000-volt systems or less, meaning they are receiving less electrical force, which consequently slows down charging time. However, Delphi is now presenting a new solution, developed with Cree that will cut the time, needed for charging in half. Thanks to new silicon carbide inverter, they are presenting the system, which will also enable 800-volt charging.

“Doubling the voltage from today’s typical 400 volts brings a substantial range of benefits, both for the vehicle user and for the vehicle manufacturer,” explains Richard F. Dauch, Chief Executive Officer of Delphi Technologies. “We have designed this technology to simplify vehicle manufacturers’ multi-voltage strategy as they extend their electric and hybrid vehicle ranges.”

Firstly, this technology is going to be available to performance electric cars, once it hits the market in 2022. On the other hand, potential for such technology is quite vast, as engineers might thus decide to make smaller and lighter cables, larger batteries with longer range or even better harvesting of kinetic energy at braking. Possibilities are endless and since half of all new cars made in 2025 ar expected to be electric, this system might become quite popular.