Delphi And Bosch Plan 48 Volt Mild Hybrid Systems

The watchwords in the automotive industry today are fuel economy (in America) and emissions (in Europe). Government regulations will put enormous pressure on manufacturers to find new ways to raise gas mileage and lower carbon dioxide emissions by 2020. In the end, electric cars will be the solution, but they will not represent the majority of cars on the road for at least 15 years or more. In the meantime, many car makers will rely on plug-in hybrid technology to help them meet the more stringent regulations.

But what if there was a way to get 70% of the benefit of plug-in hybrid systems for 30% of the cost? Delphi and Bosch both say those are the kind of results car companies could expect if they adopted the 48 volt electrical systems they have developed. The systems use a 48 volt lithium ion battery along with electronic controllers for the battery and hybrid powertrain, a DC/DC converter, and an electrically driven turbocharger for the gasoline engine, according to Ward’s Automotive. Johnson Controls is also working on a 48 volt mild hybrid system.

Mary Gustanski, vice president for engineering and program management at Delphi, says the European market will be first to adopt the new 48 volt mild hybrid systems because new emissions regulations go into effect there in 2021. She thinks China, with its intractable pollution problems in its cities, won’t be far behind. When higher fuel economy standards hit the US in 2025, mild hybrids will start being in demand in America, too.

At first, says Delphi, the systems will have an inverter that steps down the voltage to 12 volts for traditional uses such as starter motors, electric windows, entertainment systems and climate control systems. But as manufacturers become more familiar with the 48 volt standard, Delphi expects more and more of them will switch over their entire electrical system to 48 volts. That will make it possible for more auxiliary systems like coolant pumps and air conditioning compressors to be powered by electricity instead of driven by the engine. Figuring out how to make the engine do less work will further boost economy and lower emissions.

The Bosch system would include a small electric motor to provide assistance to the gasoline engine under some circumstances, such as moving away from a complete stop. Bosch says the motor could also be used to power autonomous parking controlled by a smartphone app, according to Green Car Reports.

One big advantage of a 48 volt system is that it does not require expensive and heavy safety shielding the way a full plug-in or electric propulsion system does. Those systems often operate at up to 600 volts. Saving weight will be a crucial part of meeting coming regulatory standards. Delphi plans to show off its mild hybrid system, along with autonomous driving technology it has developed, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that begins January 5.