Automotive electrical systems-the power electronics market of the future

The automobile is undergoing a revolution in the design of its electrical system. This is the result of increasingly sophisticated engine and body controls, as well as the introduction of new, electrically controlled functions. The main electrical bus of the future will be 42 V, and it will be buffered by a 36 V battery. As many devices and electronic control units require voltages different from 42, conversion from the 42 V bus to these other voltages will be necessary. Some anticipated features, such as electromechanical engine valves, will demand both conversion and sophisticated control at power levels in the 2 kW to 10 kW range. These, and other developments in automotive engineering, are promising to create a vital and challenging new market for power electronics in the next decade.