Not all design parameters for SiC semiconductors can be found on data sheets. Madhu Chinthavali, team lead for Oak Ridge National Lab’s Power Electronics & Electric Machinery Group, describes what to look for and what design engineers need to test for themselves when working with SiC power devices. Madhu’s group recently devised a 30-kW inverter prototype for electric vehicles based on SiC devices which featured efficiency levels of nearly 99%.