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Powertrain applications lead the industry's march toward die higher voltage standard.
The rush to upgrade the automotive electrical system standard from today's 14-volt to 42-volt has been tempered by transition costs, but some surprises are sting relative to powertrain applications. The 42-volt revolution (seeAI, Aug. 98, p.30) was originally conceived to enable high power applications like electronically-actuated valves to move into production by 2002. However, a longer than anticipated development time has pushed that technology off to a 2005 timeframe.
As the momentum of electronic valvetrain development ebbs (for the moment), other engine-related technologies are filling the void, keeping the rollout of 42-volt vehicles on track for the 2003 model year. The current challenge is to establish new standards so suppliers can build prototypes to a common specification. In fact, two months ago BMW's Spartanburg S.C., plant sponsored a 42-volt conference that united suppliers and consortia members for a two-lay deep dive into...