A systematic approach to the development of automotive electrical power system architectures

Throughout the automotive industry, the average electrical load on the electrical power supply system has been growing rapidly over the last decade. The main reason for this trend is the drive to replace the existing hydraulic, pneumatic and other mechanical systems with electrically powered systems to improve fuel economy. Such systems require more electrical power and it is anticipated that future passenger cars will require alternators operating at high power levels in the range of 4kW to 5kW by 2010.