In Depth: Silicon Carbide Chips Could Give Chinese EV Firms an Edge, With Beijing’s Help

Refueling a traditional gas-powered car is as simple as filling its tank with one of a handful of flammable liquids.

Electric vehicles (EVs) need more sophisticated infrastructure. Though some have cells that can be swapped quickly at battery stations, most require a plug-in charging pile, as well as time, to replenish them.

Enter silicon carbide, or SiC, a material almost as hard as diamonds that is rarely found in nature. It was patented late in the 19th century as Carborundum, and first manufactured for use as an abrasive for grinding and polishing hard surfaces.