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Feann Torr26 Aug 2014
NEWS

Audi goes high-voltage

German car-maker says new 48-electrical system will lead to more powerful, efficient and smarter Audis

As car technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, the amount of electricity required to power increasingly complicated vehicle systems increases -- something Audi will tackle with a new 48-volt electrical system.

The German prestige car-maker has announced it will upgrade part of its vehicles' electrical systems from 12 to 48 volts, giving it more scope to introduce cutting-edge technology.

The new scalable packaging will include a 48-volt electrical system backed up by a small lithium-ion battery and a powerful new alternator, and operates in conjunction with the traditional 12-volt set-up.

Audi says the new electrical system, in line with its 'Vorsprung durch Technik' (Advancement through Technology) philosophy, can reduce fuel consumption by up to 0.4L/100km when coupled with an advanced alternator.

The extra electrical power will allow Audi to run several new systems simultaneously, including next-generation dynamic chassis control and electrically-powered compressors (aka turbochargers).

Audi's electric turbos, which are claimed to eliminate turbo lag, have already seen in the ground-breaking A6 and RS 5 TDI concepts.

Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, Audi's technical chief, says the high-voltage set-up will be a boon for fuel efficiency but won't shackle driver involvement.

"It enables us to make more energy available. That paves the way for new technologies with which we can make our cars more sporty, more efficient and more convenient to use," he stated.

Audi has not said whether the new 48-volt electrical system will be rolled out across its entire range of vehicles, or which production models will get the upgrade first, but the turbo-diesel A6 and RS 5 concepts suggest it will be offered on top-shelf models first.

According to Audi, 12-volt electrical systems (mostly powered by lead-acid batteries) are presently at "their very limits" and are "no longer capable of meeting the demands of new, dynamic-load consumers such as high-performance electric compressors".

While the development version of the new 48-volt system currently requires an additional lithium-ion battery, the new storage systems deliver more electric wallop than before and, with the addition of an efficiency-optimised alternator, means the cars will qualify as mild hybrids.

Audi reckons its powerful new alternator has an energy recovery output of 10kW, which can save up 10 grams of CO2 per kilometre travelled.

Importantly, the new electrical system gives Audi more scope in its desire to electrify different elements of its drivetrains, which will be an integral part of its future line-up -- particularly in e-tron models.

The power system will also benefit upcoming autonomous driving technology, which is expected to make its debut in the next-generation A8 in 2017.

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