Articles

According to Taylor Hansen, Vice-President of Controlled Power Technologies (CPT), a British technology company and a strong proponent of the 48V system, global carmakers will have to embrace 48 volts as the most cost-effective way of meeting stringent CO2 emissions regulations being introduced in 2020.

Today, a typical vehicle has dozens of embedded processors managing everything from passenger comfort and entertainment to critical vehicle safety systems. In fact it’s no longer possible to build vehicles that meet safety requirements without microprocessors that control systems such as the anti-lock brakes and advanced driver assistance systems.

The five OEM’s expressed their intention to implement a 48-volt power supply, and appealed to suppliers to actively engage in research and development of components for vehicles with a 48-volt electric system.

48V electronic architecture has been looming on the automotive horizon for a few years, and rapid growth is expected over the next five years as manufacturers strive to meet increasingly stringent CO2 emission targets.

In this article you will discover current global emission standards, the benefits of electrification, and 48 volt hybrid technologies & powertrain architecture with companies such as Daimler, Audi, Delphi. Also how Ford is involved in the Ricardo-led Advanced Diesel-Electric Powertrain (ADEPT) project.