McLaren Applied’s Four Stages of EV Development

The automotive team at McLaren Applied sees efficiency as leading what it describes as the next ‘wave’ of electrification. The first involved early pioneers of technology, the second, current wave is denoted by the breakthrough of EVs to the mainstream. The third stage is efficiency and will see inverter technology rapidly adopt silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductors, especially in 800V architectures and vehicles that need longer range where efficient power electronics are key.

The fourth stage focuses on drivability and adding character back into the powertrains of electric vehicles, improving driver engagement and differentiation from the competition. “High switching frequencies and the ability to control the drivetrain more sensitively enables you to start programming different characteristics into the drivetrain. With this, we can introduce character that some might say is lacking from EVs,” says Stephen Lambert, Head of Electrification at McLaren Applied.