EDITORIAL: Promise of 48 volts is no shock

It seems like everywhere Automotive Engineering's editors lately have been, or whatever discussion of advanced technology is happening, 48-volt technology suddenly is spoken of almost as a given. The 48-volt revolution has gained so much momentum in such a short time that we feel like the proverbial car stalled on the railroad tracks. “Whaddya mean you didn't see that locomotive coming?”

The past year has seen 48-volt technology hammer to the forefront with the looming fury of a drafting NASCAR racer slingshotting into the lead. It all seemed still so theoretical just a short time ago-but suddenly 48-volt innovations are showing up, on production vehicles, at a pace that only hints at the technology's pending impact.