As India’s electric vehicle industry picks up, Japanese precision equipment maker HORIBA is looking to play a role in supporting foundries and silicon chip plants that aim to build their capacity to make power electronics. HORIBA sees great potential in alternative semiconductors such as silicon carbide that will enable next-generation electric vehicles to achieve greater efficiency, higher power levels and better heat dissipation. The company is predicting a substantial increase in demand for silicon carbide and related materials for power devices used in electric vehicle applications.
HORIBA believes that precision manufacturing will emerge as the key element, helping India build capabilities to manufacture power electronics based on alternative semiconductors such as silicon carbide and II-VI compounds. The company has identified several critical manufacturing steps in producing silicon carbide power devices and related silicon-based power electronics where India may need to focus resources to improve yield and reduce manufacturing costs. It has observed that the process equipment for crystal growing, wafer slicing and compound semiconductor manufacturing require tight tolerances, and defects during manufacturing could lead to lower yield and cause higher costs. As a result, it anticipates that demand for HORIBA’s measurement equipment and advanced process control products for precision manufacturing will grow as India scales up its production capacity.
Moreover, India would need to establish reliable supplies of raw materials and fabricated products if it aims to localize silicon carbide power electronics manufacturing. Silicon carbide powders, specialty gases and other materials needed in the manufacturing process are currently available from a limited set of suppliers. India will have to tie up with these suppliers for long-term supply contracts or develop indigenous capabilities to produce any of these materials to ensure an uninterrupted supply chain. It may also consider building a self-sufficient ecosystem for the fabrication of silicon carbide wafers, epitaxy, wafer polishing and packaging to achieve greater control over supply chain logistics.A
nother important capability that India would need to build for silicon carbide power electronics is skilled manpower, something that it has in abundance. While silicon wafer manufacturing is largely a single-crystal growth exercise, the techniques and materials used in silicon carbide power electronics manufacturing are significantly different, requiring additional steps in the process flow. India needs to ensure that it has the right expertise in these areas, leveraging its large talent pool of engineers, researchers and technical staff to support the creation of a sustainable supply chain for advanced power electronics manufacturing.
HORIBA has observed that India’s ability to localize silicon carbide power electronics manufacturing will be critical to meeting the rising demand from its electric vehicle industry while participating in the global value chain for power semiconductors. Building precision manufacturing capabilities, developing reliable material supply chains and nurturing skilled manpower will be vital to this effort