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Why Cars Are Moving To 48-Volt Electrical Systems - ExtremeTech
Why Cars Are Moving To 48-Volt Electrical Systems - ExtremeTech
Why Cars Are Moving To 48-Volt Electrical Systems - ExtremeTech
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48 Comments (https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/247889-cars-moving-48-volt-electrical-systems#disqus_thread)
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Many cars will soon have 48-volt electrical systems. They’ll power stop-start motors, hybrid motors,
and turbochargers, allowing for smaller engines with better fuel economy and performance. They’ll
handle accessories ranging from mechanical or hydraulic power to electric power such as power
https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/247889-cars-moving-48-volt-electrical-systems 1/20
20/11/2018 Why Cars Are Moving to 48-Volt Electrical Systems - ExtremeTech
steering, power brakes, water pump, radiator cooling, and air conditioning.
These will be combination 12- and 48-volt systems with 12 volts for traditional lighting and
infotainment, 48 volts for more power-hungry components. But don’t freak out: The 12-volt system
isn’t going away any time soon.
Odds are your next car will have a start-stop system, probably 12 volts, and a slightly larger 12-volt
battery. When you come to a stop at the light, the car shuts down after a couple seconds. It fires
up again with a little hesitation, a couple tenths of a second, on some cars. At a light, the car feels
poky. It makes you nervous if you’re at a stop sign trying to get across the street with crossing
traffic getting closer. With 48-volt stop-start:
The starter is replaced with a beefier 48-volt device called a motor generator unit (MGU), belt
alternator starter, or belt-driven starter generator.
A 48-volt lithium-ion battery pack, typically in the trunk.
A DC-to-DC converter.
Effectively, you’ve got a mild hybrid powertrain, one that works in parallel with the combustion
engine. Backers say it provides two-thirds the benefit of a full hybrid at a third the cost. Fuel
economy increases by 15 to 20 percent.
https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/247889-cars-moving-48-volt-electrical-systems 2/20
20/11/2018 Why Cars Are Moving to 48-Volt Electrical Systems - ExtremeTech
https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/247889-cars-moving-48-volt-electrical-systems 3/20
20/11/2018 Why Cars Are Moving to 48-Volt Electrical Systems - ExtremeTech
Schematic of the Audi SQ7 TDI (diesel) engine and electric supercharger.
BISG belt
12V battery
48v battery
inverter intake +BMS 48V junction
box
e-charger
flywheel
https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/247889-cars-moving-48-volt-electrical-systems 4/20
20/11/2018 Why Cars Are Moving to 48-Volt Electrical Systems - ExtremeTech
A 48V e-charger is added to complement the car’s existing turbocharger. Finally, the engine is
modified for cylinder deactivation, which Delphi grandly calls Dynamic Skip Fire. At cruise on level
roads, a car with Dynamic Skip Fire might fire, on average, only one and a quarter cylinders per
revolution.
https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/247889-cars-moving-48-volt-electrical-systems 5/20
20/11/2018 Why Cars Are Moving to 48-Volt Electrical Systems - ExtremeTech
Mary Gustanski, Delphi vice president of engineering and program management, said the
prototype’s purpose is to show automakers what can be done, affordably. In the US, buyers are
looking for more horsepower as well as economy. In the booming Chinese market, it’s fuel
economy. In Europe, it’s a mix of fuel economy and reduced emissions. For diesel engines,
automakers can trade off some of the savings in CO2 (essentially fuel economy) for a reduction in
NOx; urea injection may still be necessary to clean up the exhaust, but in smaller amounts.
Total cost of a system including the e-charger? “For $1,500, you’re looking at a 20 percent
improvement in fuel economy,” Gustanski says. Twenty percent better fuel economy puts a lot of
otherwise traditional combustion-engine cars into the territory of full hybrids such as the Toyota
Prius that can drive 1-2 miles on battery alone.
Between then and now, there is more concern about the environment, and more car components
have gone electrical. Cars with lane keep assist (https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/165320-
what-is-lane-departure-warning-and-how-does-it-work) and lane centering assist, and self-driving
cars shortly, need electric not hydraulic power assist.
https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/247889-cars-moving-48-volt-electrical-systems 6/20
20/11/2018 Why Cars Are Moving to 48-Volt Electrical Systems - ExtremeTech
At the high end, the $230,000 Bentley Bentayga SUV has added a 48-volt active anti-roll bar.
Mechanical anti-roll bars reduce the car’s lean in a turn. This one reduces roll further, so
passengers feel less discomfort when the driver takes a curve at high speed.
Air conditioning is more efficient with an electric motor instead of a driven belt, because the AC
compressor is off more than it’s on when the AC is turned on. Also, it can cycle on even when the
combustion engine is is stop-start mode.
Schwanke envisions a second iteration of cars that go beyond a smallish belt-drive motor
generator. Rather than 2 kilowatts, it could be 10, 15, or 20 kilowatts. “Decouple the combustion
system [from the motor generator],” he says, “you can do some advanced features you can’t do
from a belt system … things like going through a parking lot [on electric power] or low-speed urban
driving.” In other words, while 48 volts is a step up from 12 volts, it’s also a step down in cost from
300-volt-plus systems in traditional hybrids.
https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/247889-cars-moving-48-volt-electrical-systems 7/20
20/11/2018 Why Cars Are Moving to 48-Volt Electrical Systems - ExtremeTech
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48 Comments ExtremeTech
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The torque of the electric motor is instantaneous an gets you off the line which is when
the combustion engine gets going.
△ ▽ • Reply • Share ›
Therefore, increasing the voltage at the same amperage increases power. The writer
also pointed that out. And multiplication is commutative - you're arguing semantics, not
pointing out a fundamental misunderstanding of power. Power = Voltage x Amperage,
therefore an increase in either voltage or amperage increases power. And since wires
aren't a storage medium, saying wires can carry a certain amount of wattage isn't
technically correct. Wires are a transportation medium, so knowing the flow (amperage)
and potential (voltage) are more important when talking about wires.
2△ ▽ • Reply • Share ›
Since there seems to be a lack of copy editors (and fact checkers) these days,
errors need to be pointed out when found.
Thankfully, Bill has corrected the wording to properly reflect the situation. Most
authors just ignore comments, or don't bother to read them at all, so kudos is
earned here.
△ ▽ • Reply • Share ›
https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/247889-cars-moving-48-volt-electrical-systems 11/20
20/11/2018 Why Cars Are Moving to 48-Volt Electrical Systems - ExtremeTech
can drive through the resistor (your body). It only takes 100 mA of current to kill
you and even a flashlight battery is capable of supplying that much current.
△ ▽ • Reply • Share ›
https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/247889-cars-moving-48-volt-electrical-systems 13/20
20/11/2018 Why Cars Are Moving to 48-Volt Electrical Systems - ExtremeTech
Nikolaos Skordilis > compujas • 2 years ago
Electrocution depends on both amperage and voltage. When you raise the volts
x4, assuming an equal cable resistance, you raise the watts x4 as well. If you
raise the volts x4 and decrease the current by x4 as well, the net watts -and
thus the power that will flow through your body- remain the same. Conversely, if
you raise the amperage x4 and drop the volts by x4, you end up with the same
power.
A static shock is harmless (unless you are handling fuel) because despite the
thousands of volts the current is a few microamperes worth. A hypothetical
(because, as far as I know that is probably impossible) inverse situation with
thousands of amperes and microvolts would also be harmless.
△ ▽ • Reply • Share ›
RT • 2 years ago
Good article. I just wanted to take issue with one particular line.
"Air conditioning is more efficient with an electric motor instead of a driven belt, because the
AC compressor is off more than it’s on when the AC is turned on. "
The thing is A/C compressors on cars have an electronic clutch. When the compressor cycles
off the clutch disengages the drive belt from the compressor. It's essentially just a free spinning
pulley at that point and with no load being placed on the engine and no real impact on
efficiency. The clutch already does the exact same thing that you're saying an electronic motor
would accomplish - it cycles the compressor off even when the AC is on.
You might get some efficiency increases due to the fact that an electric motor converts
electrical energy into motion more efficiently than an internal combustion engine converts fuel
energy into motion. But then again, that electrical energy for the electric motor is coming from
a battery that's charged by an internal combustion engine powered by fuel. And most often
through a belt driven alternator....
2△ ▽ • Reply • Share ›
k i > RT 9 th
https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/247889-cars-moving-48-volt-electrical-systems 15/20
20/11/2018 Why Cars Are Moving to 48-Volt Electrical Systems - ExtremeTech
kevin mccune > RT • 9 months ago
You could completey seal the system however and it might last the life of the car
trouble free.
△ ▽ • Reply • Share ›
However, I wouldn't buy even an improved gas car at this point if there is an acceptable full-
electric car in the segment you are shopping in. For long-range affordable EVs, the Bolt is
already here, Tesla M3 is here soon, Nissan Leaf V2 is likely on its way too, plus all of the
majors are scrambling to put their EVs on the market. There are many shorter-range EVs
already on the market Leaf v1, BMW i3, eGolf...etc which are perfectly fine for commuting and
regular in-city duties (In smaller countries like many in the EU they are good for many inter-city
tasks too).
Interesting to see the reaction to the Honda Clarity EV. Range is 80 miles, the grabber
is that it's an Accord size vehicle, most others are smaller. Honda engineers say to
buyers, "We know you don't drive that many miles, so why pay more and drag around
an extra 400 pounds of batteries you don't need?" It may be a case where Honda's
people are right, but the customer says he or she wants something that goes 250
miles. If so, tough times for Honda.
△ ▽ • Reply • Share ›
amazing though. At least 20 mpg city and 26 highway, which is about 5 more than a typical
2WD modern full size truck and 375 ft-lbs peak torque and very quick. Again, these horror
stories are unfounded regarding assumed concerns with start-stop systems of either type.
1△ ▽ • Reply • Share ›
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