The future of power electronics in advanced automotive electrical systems

It is only recently that manufacturers have begun to appreciate the electrical system's influence on vehicle performance and price. The result has been an increasing interest in replacing mechanical actuators by electrical, improving electrical system efficiency, finding alternatives to the present 12 VDC system, and improving safety and comfort by introducing new functions that are best controlled electrically. In this paper, the authors consider the demands presently placed upon an automobile's electrical system, and describe the characteristics of future system functions that will require a major increase in the power electronic content of a car.