How to Make the Leap to 48V Electrical Architectures

Even without taking the transition from internal combustion engines to battery electric vehicles (BEVs) into account, the electrical power requirements of today’s vehicles have become daunting. Every device within a vehicle — from the air conditioner and seat heaters to the lighting and infotainment systems — requires power, and the wires supplying that power must have a large enough diameter to support the current.

The high number of devices and their corresponding wires creates substantial challenges in packaging and routing. As OEMs focus on improving fuel economy and EV range, the weight and cost of all those wires is coming under increased scrutiny.

One way to shrink the wire gauges and reduce weight and cost throughout is to move from a 12V electrical architecture to one based on 48V. But OEMs that move to 48V have to pay particular attention to several key design considerations to ensure the system’s safety and reliability.