By 2025, one in five new vehicles across the world expected to be equipped with a 48-volt drive

German auto parts maker Continental has commenced volume production of its 48 volt (V) low-voltage hybrid modular system, the company announced in a press release on 9 November. The system will be first employed in Renault Scenic Hybrid Assist by the end of this year. Juergen Wiesenberger, head of hybrid electric vehicles at Continental North America, announced that other production launches for both diesel and gasoline vehicles are also in the pipeline for North America, Europe and China. Continental will undertake capacity expansion soon on the basis of a modular system for 48V drives.

"We are proud that we were able to secure Renault as the first customer for our innovative 48-volt drive. In 2025, approximately one in five new vehicles across the world will be equipped with a 48-volt drive," said Wiesenberger.

Significance: Continental’s 48V low-voltage hybrid modular system combines an efficient, water-cooled induction motor with an integrated inverter. The electric motor transmits power via a belt drive directly to the crankshaft of the combustion engine. This configuration is known as ‘P0 arrangement’. The company is also focusing on another system with ‘P2 arrangement’. This solution has been co-developed by Continental and Schaeffler, in partnership with Ford and was showcased at Vienna Motor Symposium in May this year. The second-generation Gasoline Technology Car (GTC II) was integrated in Ford Focus. Under this arrangement, electric motor is located between the engine and the transmission operations entirely independently of the combustion engine. This helps the 48V drive to assist electric driving at temporary speeds of up to 31 miles per hour (50 kilometers per hour). Continental claims the system enables fuel savings of up to 25%.

The 48V hybrid system has been one of the most talked about technologies in the electromobility space for a while now. However, finally this technology is finding its way into many new vehicles. One of the main advantages of 48V system is that it allows for considerable savings in fuel consumption for moderate additional costs, unlike conventional hybrids that are significantly costlier.

IHS forecasts that 48V technology will start appearing in non-hybrids by the end of this year, while 2017 is likely to be the starting point for its use in second generation mild hybrids. Automakers in China and Europe will lead the way in employing 48V systems in mild hybrids whereas Japanese and North American automakers are expected to use it for non-hybrid applications like electric turbochargers.

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