Evolution of Vehicle Architecture

The evolution of electronics brings vehicle architecture to a turning point

Ah, the 1957 Chevy Bel Air.

Not only a beauty on the outside, but a paragon of simplicity on the inside—at least when it comes to its electrical system. Very, very simple. But as vehicles have evolved over time, so has the electrical architecture. 

Jump ahead to the present day, where cars transfer more than 100,000 pieces of data in the blink of an eye.

Consumer demand for safety and software-enabled features is increasing at an unprecedented rate. This increase in software-enabled capability impacts infotainment, user experience, active safety and connected vehicle services, and paves the way for the ultimate application, autonomous driving.

As the demand for software-enabled features grows, there is a corresponding increase in the need for computing horsepower. Just like the latest iPhone has to add more computing power to run all the new apps, we need to add more computing horsepower to the car to run all the latest features.

What this means is that the traditional architecture approach will no longer be viable and support the growth in content and complexity. There isn’t enough computing power to run the vehicle’s complex software algorithms, and the networking infrastructure cannot support the data transfer speeds of the future.

A closer look at how electrical architecture systems have evolved over the decades helps explain this remarkable increase — and why the automotive world is shifting from a fragmented approach to the future: a software-defined digital platform.

1950s: Simplicity 
Minimal Electrical Content, No Electronics

• 12-volt systems reign
• Ring terminals = primary connection method
• 56/58/59 connections make their debut
• Woven cloth coverings are standard 

1960s: Stability 
Electrical Content Grows

• Audio and lighting enhancements spur content growth
• Glass fuse protections becomes standard

1970s: Anticipation
Electronics Join the Party

• Emission requirements emerge, electronic modules follow
• Circuit protection migrates to smaller footprint auto fuse (ATO)
• Harness positioning begins to require systems expertise

1980s: Take Off
Electronics Integration Means Electrical Growth

• New regulations drive more electrical content
• Sealed connections become best practice
• Electrical partitioning and packaging reach new levels 
• Electrical content growth fuels vehicle assembly plant concerns

1990s: Acceleration
Architecture Expertise Becomes a "Thing"

• Electrical centers redefine architecture standards and optimization
• Complexity management becomes vehicle assembly plant focus
• Cable and components miniaturization improves packaging

2000s: More and More 
Electronics Feed the Features/Functions Beast

• Data and communication protocols drive new product requirements
• “Optional” equipment becomes standard
• More legislation = more content growth

2010s: Connectivity and Safety
High-Power Management Takes Charge

• Consumer electronics integration adds layers of complexity
• Driver distraction becomes a social issue
• Occupant safety spurs additional electrical content
• U.S. fuel economy regulations drive high-voltage powertrains and systems

2020s: Mobilization 
On-Board Systems Are No Longer the Limit

• Advanced connectivity and safety continue to drive next generation cables/connections
• Legislation (safety, fuel economy, etc.) influences electrical growth and content
• Advanced communication protocols beget new technologies
• Cybersecurity concerns drive multi layers of redundancy and fault tolerances

2030s: Advanced Integration
Safe, Green, Connected, All at the Same Time

• Multi-voltage domains bring more layers of device electrification
• Autonomous driving features create additional high-speed data networks

The pictures tell the story.

More features mean more computing power, more data and more power distribution than ever before. And as the car becomes a supercomputer, with more features and connectivity, its architecture or foundation needs to change radically. The historical vehicle architecture approach no longer works – it can’t support the growth in content and complexity. Aptiv has an extensive heritage of helping OEMs navigate the evolution of vehicle architecture, one that will continue as we look ahead to the coming decades.