Audi develops new 48-volt electrical system

  • Aug 28, 2014
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The German carmaker will introduce 48-volt electrical architectures to its vehicles, helping the firm to improve efficiency

Audi develops new 48-volt electrical system

In a bid to increase power and efficiency of its cars Audi will be adding a 48-volt electrical system to its vehicles. This system was earlier previewed on the Audi A6 TDI concept and the Audi RS 5 TDI concept, and consists of a compact lithium-ion battery which provides 48 volts as well as powers a compressor that operates independently from the engine, thus improving the acceleration performance.

The lithium-ion battery in this system works in synchronisation with a new alternator that charters the drivetrain as a mild hybrid. This system will help improve the start-stop technology by offering more ways to control the engine while providing power to secondary systems when the engine is in the off phase. This robust alternator also achieves an energy recovery output of 10KW, which is more than what the current alternators are capable of.

Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development at Audi, said, “We are using the full bandwidth of electrification in our drive principles strategy. Running part of the vehicle electrical system at 48 volts plays a central role in this.”

“It enables us to make more energy available. That paves the way for new technologies with which we can make our cars more sporty, more efficient and more convenient to use,” he further added.

According to Audi the new 48-volt technology is better than the 12-volt electrical system, especially at lower temperatures, as it enables various static‑load consumers to account for the entire power generated by the alternator, which will deliver up to three kilowatts. The company explains that the current 12-volt battery power is no longer capable of meeting the demands of new devices such as electric compressors for forced induction.

The German carmaker further states that the 48-volt system runs separately from the 12-volt system. Higher voltage leads to smaller cable cross-sections, which ultimately translates into lighter cable harnesses with lower power dissipation. This new system also receives new storage technologies which in turn help to produce much more power than the existing 12-volt system.

This new technology from Audi will not only make cars more convenient and efficient to use, but will also enhance the driving experience of many Audi users.

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