The 42 V PowerNet Story - Challenges of an International Collaboration

International agreement on 42V as a standard automotive voltage was the consequence of an innovative and productive collaborative process. Starting with a small group of strangers representing 8 companies meeting in a neutral setting, the 18 month process overcame obstacles of individual agendas, intellectual property and diversity of opinions to produce a set of recommendations that was quickly and enthusiastically embraced by the industry. This paper will describe the process and lessons learned that will be helpful in addressing future questions requiring industry consensus.