48V

German OEM Volkswagen will not switch to a single 48V power supply system in mild hybrids in the near future, according to Florian Kühnetz, development engineer at Volkswagen.

Volkswagen will focus on a dual voltage power supply comprising a 12V lead-acid battery and a 48V lithium-ion battery, said Kühnetz at the 2^nd 48V automotive power supply conference in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Johnson Controls has unveiled its first-generation 48V lithium-ion micro-hybrid battery at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt, Germany.

Leveraging a dual voltage architecture, Johnson Controls’ micro-hybrid battery system combines a 12V starter battery and a 48V lithium-ion battery, which it claims could provide up to 15% fuel savings in vehicles. The battery will be available for testing with key automotive customers this December.

The 48V battery is designed with the capacity to quickly capture energy from braking and can support higher loads such as air-conditioning and active chassis technologies. The 12V battery provides power to the vehicle starter, interior and exterior lights, and entertainment systems such as radios and DVD players.

The prismatic lithium-ion cells and complete systems for the prototypes will be made at Johnson Controls’ facility in Holland, Michigan. The battery is designed with standardized components and size to help drive scale and minimize cost, it claims.

Ray Shemanski, vice president and general manager of the Original Equipment Group for Johnson Controls Power Solutions, said: “We expect Micro Hybrid technology will be adopted in Europe first, due to more stringent fuel economy and emissions standards, and then quickly move to U.S. markets in the next few years with global adoption starting in 2020.”