48-volt electrical system
{{Short description|DC electrical system used in cars}}A 48-volt DC electrical system voltage is a relatively low-voltage electrical system that is increasingly used in vehicles. It began in the 2010s as a way to increase the propulsion and battery recharge during braking for fuel savings in internal combustion engine vehicles, especially mild hybrid vehicles.{{cite news |last=Tracy|first=David |date=January 13, 2017 |title=Everything You Need To Know About The Upcoming 48-Volt Electrical Revolution In Cars |url=https://jalopnik.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-upcoming-48-volt-1790364465 |work=Jalopnik}}
History
Traditionally, vehicle low-voltage applications were powered by a 12-volt system. In the 1990s, an attempt by a cross-industry standards group to specify a 42-volt electrical system failed to catch on and was abandoned by 2009.{{cite news |url=http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/a2198/4226979/ |title = Whatever Happened to the 42-Volt Car? |last=Allen|first=Mike |date=1 October 2009 |work=Popular Mechanics |access-date=15 December 2023}} During the 2010s, renewed interest arose for a 48-volt low-voltage standard for powering automotive electronics, especially in hybrid vehicles.Why Cars Are Moving to 48-Volt Electrical Systems, Bill Howard April 26, 2017
https://www.extremetech.com/cars/247889-cars-moving-48-volt-electrical-systems
In 2011, German car manufacturers Audi, BMW, Daimler Benz, Porsche, and Volkswagen{{cite news|first=Alfred|last=Vollmer |url=https://www.all-electronics.de/automotive-transportation/deutsche-oems-setzen-standards.html |title=Deutsche OEMs setzen Standards|work=all-electronics|date=June 14, 2011|lang=de}} agreed on a 48 V system{{clarify|was this a specific design of a system? a new proposed staandard? an idea that they should begin to move to 48V?|date=January 2024}} supplementing the legacy 12 V low-voltage automotive standard.{{cite news|first=Christoph|last=Hammerschmidt |url=http://www.eenewsautomotive.com/news/german-carmakers-agree-48v-board-supply-charging-plug |title=German carmakers agree on 48V on-board supply, charging plug|work=eeNews Automotive|date=June 16, 2011}}
In model year 2017, the Renault Scenic dCi Hybrid Assist was the first 48 V mild-hybrid passenger car.{{cn|date=January 2024}}
As of 2018, a 48 V electrical subsystem operated production vehicles such as Porsche and Bentley SUVs. Audi and Mercedes-Benz used a 48 V subsystem in 2018 vehicles such as A6, A7, A8 with 3.0 TDI 48 V mild-hybrid, CLS, E-Class, S-Class with M256 3.0 Turbo Otto 48 V Mild-Hybrid.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/08/business/electric-cars-48-volts.html |title=To Power the Future, Carmakers Flip on 48-Volt Systems|first=Norman|last=Mayersohn |date=February 8, 2018|work=The New York Times {{subscription required}}}}{{clarify|did any of these cars eliminate the older 12 V system for full-on 48V? or were they mostly mild hybrids and still retained the 12 V system also for many components?|date=January 2024}}
Hyundai Tucson, Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Ceed and Kia Sportage followed in model year 2019 with 1.6 and 2.0 turbodiesel engines supported by 48 V mild-hybrid technology.{{cn|date=January 2024}}
A European automotive trade association, CLEPA, estimated in 2018 that as many as 1 of every 10 new vehicles in 2025 would use at least one 48-volt device in the vehicle, covering 15 million vehicles per year.
In March 2023, Tesla Inc. revealed that the Tesla Cybertruck and next-generation vehicle would utilize a 48-volt mid-voltage subsystem as a replacement of 12 V system, migrating the low-voltage components with highest power demand to 48 V.{{Cite news |url= https://eu.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2023/11/30/tesla-cybertruck-event-livestream-how-to-watch/71754394007/ |title= What we learned from the Tesla Cybertruck delivery event about price, range and more |website= eu.usatoday.com |first= Bailey |last= Schulz |date= November 30, 2023 |access-date= December 7, 2023}}{{better source|date=January 2024}}
In December 2023, in order to accelerate the adoption by other automakers of 48 V system voltage for automotive components, Tesla offered a "48-volt electrical system whitepaper" to all industry leaders. CEO Jim Farley confirmed that Ford had received a copy and agreed to 'help the supply base move into the 48-volt future". Tesla also adopted 48 volts for its Optimus robot.{{cite news |title=5 Tesla Cybertruck Features That Didn't Make It Into Production and Five No One Saw Coming |url=https://www.autoevolution.com/news/5-tesla-cybertruck-features-that-didn-t-make-it-into-production-and-five-no-one-saw-coming-225831.html# |work=AutoEvolution |date=10 December 2023 |access-date=18 December 2023 }}
Benefits
A 48 V system can provide more power, improve energy recuperation,48 VOLT:
A proven technology to reduce CO2 and NOx emission, CLEPA, 2018
https://clepa.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/CLEPA-48v-technology.pdf
and allow up to an 85% decrease in cable mass.48-V Systems: What You Need to Know as Automakers Say Goodbye to 12 V, 21 July 2023, Today, 48-V power systems are already helping improve the efficiency and performance of ICE and mild hybrid vehicles, but they will become an essential technology for tomorrow's EVs, Lee Goldberg, Related To: Electronic Design
https://www.electronicdesign.com/markets/automotive/article/21269271/electronic-design-48v-systems-what-you-need-to-know-as-automakers-say-goodbye-to-12-v
12-volt systems can provide only 3.5 kilowatts, while a 48 V power could achieve 15 to 20 kW or even 50 kW. 48 volts is below the level that is considered safe in dry conditions without special protective measures.Texas Instruments Bullish on 48-Volt Automotive Systems, Dan Carney, March 31, 2021
https://www.designnews.com/electronics/texas-instruments-bullish-on-48-volt-automotive-systems (See the article on electrical injury.)
One example of where these benefits can be used is in the Gordan Murray Automotive T.50, where it uses an integrated starter-generator to generate power for a 48 V AC compressor, without the need for a belt. This allows the engine to rev more freely and give the vehicle good AC, no matter the RPM.{{Cite web |date=2020-08-04 |title=The Gordon Murray Automotive T.50 Is the 654-HP, 2174-Pound Successor to the F1 |url=https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/future-cars/a33483701/gordon-murray-t50-specs-photos-price-interview/ |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=Road & Track |language=en-US}}
Another example is with the use of electric turbochargers, active suspension, and rear-wheel steering systems that require a lot of power to run, and might be more responsive and capable with a 48 V system.{{Cite web |title=What Is a 48-Volt Mild-Hybrid System? |url=https://www.capitalone.com/cars/learn/finding-the-right-car/what-is-a-48volt-mildhybrid-system/2959 |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=Capital One Auto Navigator |language=en}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
- [https://www.eetasia.com/48v-vehicle-electrical-system-more-than-just-a-bridging-technology/ 48 V Vehicle Electrical System – More Than Just a Bridging Technology?] Dusan Graovac, Christoph Schulz-Linkholt, Thomas Blasius, 23 April 2020, EE Times/Asia.{{subscription required}}
- ISO 21780:2020(en) Road vehicles — Supply voltage of 48 V — Electrical requirements and tests{{clarify|needs a URL link|date=December 2023}}