Flat Cables Bring New Dimension to Electrical Architecture

Vehicle architectures are at an inflection point. The advent of battery electric vehicles represents an  architectural break — an opportunity to rethink how we design electrical/electronic architectures — and the high amount of content in hybrid and ICE vehicles is making innovative approaches necessary there as well. Meanwhile, the move from 12V to 48V across all vehicle types also provides an opportunity to rethink the wiring and connectors used throughout.

Flat cables have emerged as an important option for power and signal connections in certain circumstances. Each main variety — flexible flat cables and flexible printed circuits — brings unique strengths in terms of size, weight, heat dissipation and automation.

New manufacturing techniques, components and connection systems are needed to fully take advantage of these strengths — and developing them will open the door to new levels of design flexibility.