Aluminium Power Cables for Automotive Applications

The standard conductive material used for automotive wiring is stranded copper cable. In pursuit of reduced exhaust emissions and increased fuel economy, aluminium is being (once again) evaluated as a viable alternative in order to reduce weight. The physical and electrical properties of aluminium pose specific challenges to its use within vehicles, and these are considered, together with a manufacturing process which addresses some of them.

The potential impact of a change to 42V for vehicle electrical systems is also discussed.