Design Considerations for Higher Voltage Automotive Electrical Systems

Raising the 12 volt electrical system voltage or adding a 24, 36, or 48 volt power source will have a tremendous impact on automobiles and the automotive industry. The impact will be on cost, mass, size, complexity, performance, fuel economy, reliability, serviceability, and customer satisfaction. The decision to proceed with a change cannot be made solely on the obvious benefits of higher voltage systems. There are also many disadvantages and many questions that need to be answered regarding the effect of higher voltage on the various components.