Current challenges in the development of new electric traction drives are focusing on increasing efficiency and power while minimizing installation space and system costs. On one hand the use of new SiC power modules has led to an increase of efficiency. On the other hand, higher component costs must be amortized by an increased utilization of the inverter which is challenging for the lifetime and reliability of the inverter. The increasing spread of electric powertrains in commercial vehicles and rising safety requirements due to future automated driving functions place increasing demands on the reliability of the drive system which have to be considered during component design. Potential for a system optimization of SiC traction inverters and a reconciliation of efficiency, costs and reliability arise from optimized control strategies and a connection of IAV’s technology-oriented powertrain synthesis method with thermal and lifetime simulations of the inverter.