Vishay unveils high-temperature DC-link capacitors for EV power electronics

Vishay Intertechnology has introduced the MKP1848e, an AEC-Q200 qualified, metallized polypropylene film capacitor engineered for demanding automotive, energy, and industrial environments. The MKP1848e capacitor, which supports operation at temperatures up to 125 °C, is designed to withstand harsh operational and environmental stresses, making it suitable for EV powertrain applications.

The MKP1848e offers rated capacitance values ranging from 1 microfarad to 140 microfarads and supports voltages from 500 VDC to 1300 VDC. Vishay says the device achieves low equivalent series resistance (ESR) values down to 1.0 milliohm and supports ripple current up to 44.5 A. The capacitor provides 25% higher ripple current density compared to previous-generation devices with identical volume. The MKP1848e can also withstand temperature humidity bias conditions per Grade III of IEC60384-16 edition 3 (60 °C, 93% relative humidity, 1344 hours at rated voltage) and endures 1000 thermal shock cycles from -40 °C to 125 °C, each with a 30-minute dwell.

The MKP1848e matches the high voltage standards required for EV and PHEV platforms, withstanding operating voltages from 250 VDC to 800 VDC at 125 °C for a limited period. The component features optional customized terminals and supports compact designs with pitch options as low as 22.5 mm, enabling up to 40% volume reduction at 500 VDC and 15% at 900 VDC.

Target applications also include fast chargers, solar inverters, hydrogen electrolyzer rectifiers, battery storage systems, motor drives, and uninterruptible power supplies. Samples and production volumes of the MKP1848e are currently available with a typical lead time of 10 weeks.

Source: Vishay Intertechnology