With increased power demands from automated driving, infotainment, enhanced comfort, and new chassis features, combined with significant cost pressure, 48V has become a vital E/E system solution. Despite previous limited adoption, recent industry movement confirms 48V’s relevance. However, its integration poses significant engineering challenges. Common standards are a fundamental element to define a shared technical framework, preventing incompatibilities and costs from „individual solutions.“ A holistic approach addressing all design „fundamentals“ is essential for robust 48V implementation.
This presentation will discuss key challenges when introducing 48V components and power supplies into vehicle architectures and designs, alongside potential solutions. These include managing increased inrush currents, mitigating the danger of arcing, and ensuring robust power net protection. Given the foreseeable co-existence of 48V and 12V components, robust 12V/48V separation and the associated ground concept (Massekonzept) are critical for overall system reliability. This impacts not only power nets but also communication networks and signal lines. At Bosch, we actively work with our customers to introduce 48V systems into their mainstream architectures, tackling these challenges to deliver high-quality, reliable products.
One crucial puzzle piece in this effort is the new international standard, ISO 25769 „Road vehicles — Electrical requirements and tests for electrical and electronic systems and components with a supply voltage of 12 V, 24 V and 48V“, currently under development. By defining clear rules for components, architectures, and 48V/12V separation, it is essential for enabling interoperability, reducing individual development efforts, and ensuring a common understanding of robust 48V system design across the industry. As project lead for the ISO standardization, we support the industry in realizing a seamless evolution towards this promising technology.
The presentation will provide an overview of 48V power supply architecture challenges and explain how the new ISO standard fits into this broader picture. We will explore how some of the many 48V challenges can be addressed, offering valuable insights for professionals in E/E architectures, power electronics, and testing for hybrid and electric vehicles