Comparison Analysis of Plastic Optical Fiber as a Replacement for Copper Cables for Car Communication Links

Car Copper cables are recognized for their high interference performance, resulting in increased vehicle weight and slower transition speeds. This paper examines the feasibility of employing multimode plastic optical fiber technology as a better solution to traditional copper cables in-car communication systems, specifically focusing on the Tesla Model Y. The study thoroughly investigates the car’s fiber optic cable system, emphasizing weight reduction, cost estimation, power link budget, rise time budget, and transmission speed. The research demonstrates significant potential for weight reduction by replacing copper cables with Plastic Optical Fiber (POF), achieving a remarkable saving of 61.47% in total cable weight. The Power link budget analysis confirmed feasibility with a total power loss of around 14 dB and received power of around −16 dB when utilized with a −2 dBm transmitter. Rise time budget analysis confirms feasibility, with most links showing a rise time of around 0.5 ns—0.2 ns faster than the system maximum. The unique light characteristic of optical fiber contributes to overall vehicle weight reduction, improved speed and capacity, enhanced security and stability, and increased energy efficiency.