Future Automobile Electrical Systems

It is now expected that the familiar 12-V battery/14-V alternator system in automobiles will, progressively, be supplanted by alternative electrical configurations. The motivation for this change springs from the pressure for reduced vehicle emissions — which relates directly to an increase in fuel economy. In California, for example, well over half of the atmospheric pollution emanates from the road transportation sector, and the need to find practical ways to abate such pollution is mirrored in many other regions of the world. 

t2-V dual-battery for stop-start (and regenerative braking) 

42-V upscale SLI battery for starting, lighting, ignition, and to power ancillaries  

42-V with some power-assist ( mild hybrid)  

High-voltage power-assist ( full hybrid) 

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In summary, the lead add battery developed over decades for SLI duty must be modified significantly in order to provide the power capability demanded by future automobile electrical systems, and to be able to sustain this function for an adequate service-life. The key objective is to overcome the processes that give... 

The Direct Methanol Fuel Cell, DMFC, (see Fig. 7-6 in section 7.2.2.4.) is another low temperature fuel cell enjoying a renaissance after significant improvements in current density. The DMFC runs on either liquid or, with better performance but higher system complexity, on gaseous methanol and is normally based on a solid polymer electrolyte (SPFC). R-Ru catalysts were found to produce best oxidation results at the anode, still the power density is relatively low [5, 29]. Conversion rates up to 34 % of the energy content into electricity were measured, an efficiency of 45 % is expected to be feasible in the future. SPFC in the power order of several kW to be used in automobile applications are currently in the development phase. 

This global context has forced automobile manufacturers to equip vehicles with micro-hybrid systems (example stop and start, the engine is stopped when it is not necessary), full hybrids (mixed operation of the vehicle with conventional thermal and/or electric propulsion), or even purely electric. In the near future, the use of hydrogen is also being considered. 

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