Automotive battery management while we wait for 42 V - High-voltage systems exist only in hybrid cars for now. But the challenges they address are here today

摘要

Forty-two volt automotive systems may be delayed for the foreseeable future, but this does not mean that high-voltage networks and battery-management requirements have been sidelined. Contrarily, ever-increasing electronic content in the vehicle, with a corresponding increase in the demands placed on the electrical system, has increased the emphasis on wringing out as much power as possible from existing 12-V systems. In addition, hybrid-electric vehicles operate at hundreds of volts, requiring high-voltage isolation and various battery-charging schemes that increase electronic content. This article will discuss overall automotive voltage requirements, with particular focus on battery management in conventional 12-V systems and high-voltage hybrid vehicles.