48-V Systems: What You Need to Know as Automakers Say Goodbye to 12 V (Download)

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The 12-V automotive power system has dominated the industry for over 70 years, but it’s begun to cede that stranglehold to 48-V options. The higher-power versions offer numerous advantages, including the ability to deliver much higher levels of power across thinner, lighter, and lower-cost wiring harnesses. Such systems are also relatively inexpensive to implement because they don't need to meet the more stringent safety and performance requirements that govern so-called high-voltage systems rated for more than 62 V.