Automotive Power: Future Power System Architectures Face Formidable Hurdles

摘要

During the past two decades, the growth in automotive electrical and electronic content has been primarily in mechatronic systems: antilock brakes that use electrical control over the hydraulic system, or electrical control over steering systems. Mechatronics means the application of electronics to control previously all-mechanical systems for improved performance. Today, it is infotronics (coined by the organizers of the 1998 Convergence Conference), a term used to reflect the trend to more information processing capability in the automobile. With the introduction of the auto-PC, the automobile will have entered the information age in force. During the automotive near term (10-15 years) the technology pendulum may well swing from the present electronic to a more electrical focus as previously mechanically driven systems become "electrified." Today's capacity pressures will be exacerbated by the need to power electrified ancillaries such as engine valve actuators, exhaust gas aftertreatment, active suspensions, all-electric steering, braking and the power to drive pumps, fans and compressors electrically.