Slashdot Mirror
42-Volt Autos
brianlmoon writes "Car Audio Electronics Magazine has a story about the auto industry switching to 36/42-Volt systems starting in 2004 and being completely switched by 2020. The demand for luxuries in cars has grown to where 12/14-Volts is just simply not enough. The automotive sound enthusiasts are going to benefit greatly as amplification will be much easier and cleaner with 3 times the voltage availble. Mobile computing will also benefit: "One of the real benefits of jumping to 42-volt systems, especially for hybrid vehicles, is the ability of the vehicle to offer regular 110-volt electrical outlets". It seems cars will have dual systems for a while for legacy equipment."
Most car drivers I see don't pay enough attention on the road as it is, and that's without the ability to plug in household applicances. Multi-car pileups because someone was checking their email or pr0n?
Does this mean if my new car has a 42v system and the car battery dies and leaves me stranded out in BFE, I have to wait for another 42v car to come by before I can get a jump? That would suck.
My neighborhood already rocks with jackasses with 3,000 watt sound systems in their cars. Just what we need, 12,000 watt sound systems at 3 in the morning.
Now I can have 2 blue lights under my D-reg Ford Escort!
299,792,458 meters per second should be enough for anyone.
A 42-volt system will slash weight
...
... Okay, when the switch to 42V is made, then everything will supposedly be peachy. But that's not tomorrow : there are still cars around with 6V batteries, or negative hot, *today* while those standards are supposed to be long dead.
...
Where ? 12V lead/acid batteries have 6 elements, 42V batteries would have 21. That's 21 lead plates and associated acid cell. The only thing that would be lighter would wire harnesses, because the wires would be lower-gauge wiring since they wouldn't have to transport as much current. I can't see that being a real weight economy.
improve fuel economy
How ? do 42V alternators have a better efficiency than 12V ones ? And even if that was the case, wouldn't, say, driving the alternator with something else than a rubber belt improve efficiency much more dramatically ?
permit the replacement of many mechanical parts with electrical ones
How ? what are the mechanical parts that can't be replaced by 12V electrical equivalents that could be replaced by 42V ones ?
power all sorts of new gizmos like seat heaters, video, etc,
I can't wait to see cars with seat heaters or video units
and, of most concern to us, improve efficiency for all automotive electrical devices
I don't know about overall efficiency, but in all fairness, that's true : it's easier to step the voltage down than up. So yes, many devices would become lighter, cheaper and probably more efficient.
opening the door to higher audio amplifier power with far less complexity than the current crop of 12-volt, high-power amplifiers. Not only can will this translate to lower cost and more compact aftermarket power amps, even head units could cheaply integrate 100-plus RMS watts per channel power.
That's about the only application where I can see a 42V system be useful.
All I see in that "improvement" is trouble, exactly like when cars switched from 6V to 12V, and more money to aftermarket accessory makes. For many years, you'll have dual-voltage devices (complicated and defeating the purpose of having a higher voltage in the car) that will be more expensive and heavier, you'll have to buy another cell phone charger, power-supply, CB and whatnot, you'll have to use voltage converters, people without a clue will plug 12V devices in 42V cars, giving more money to garages,
In short, a half-load of technical shit, trouble for everybody and a lot of money for the automotive industry
"A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
The 2004 Chevy Malibu will launch this fall with a 42V electrical system and Delphi E-Steer electrical power steering. It's not full steer-by-wire; there's still a mechanical linkage. But that's for backup, through a flexible coupling. The real steering is done with a sensor on the steering column, a motor in the steering box, and a computer watching speed, steering angle, skid information, and such.
This will make converting cars to computer control much easier.