Tesla hopes to apply the 48-volt electrical architecture that debuted in the Cybertruck to other brands of vehicles.
In a recent blog post, the automaker explained that it will implement a low-voltage connector standard (LVCS) based on the 48-volt Cybertruck architecture on all vehicles to help simplify hardware. . It is also marketing LVCS to other automakers, as well as the North American Charging Standard (NACS) DC fast-charging connector.
According to Tesla, LVCS narrows the number of electrical connector types needed in new cars to six, while also meeting the requirements for 48-volt operation, including increased spacing between contacts. This is critical to prevent arcing and short circuits when current increases from the current automotive industry standard of 12 volts to 48 volts.
tesla LVCS connector
Tesla believes its 48-volt electrical architecture is “the best choice in the long run,” noting that it takes a quarter of the current to deliver the same amount of power, and that claims that it will help ensure reliable operation of autonomous driving systems.
After focusing on eliminating 12-volt accessory batteries from its EVs, Tesla has made the full leap to 48-volts with the Cybertruck. The next generation of Ford’s EVs may do the same. However, these are not the first automotive applications for 48-volt technology.
Mild hybrids have used a 48-volt electrical architecture for more than a decade. Ironically, all of these systems had DC step-down capability, and while the accessories carried over the 12-volt system, the suppliers extolled the benefits of making everything 48-volt. But automakers were reluctant, mainly because of the cost of upgrading all the electronics at once.
bosch 48 volt mild hybrid
Now, with self-driving cars, standardized components, and streamlined connectors in mind, cost sharing could become possible as Tesla frames 48-volt hardware as a new industry standard.
It worked fine for Tesla before. In 2022, the company strongly appealed to the industry to use its NACS connector. By the end of 2023, all major brands in the North American market have announced their move to the North American market.
