As we already discussed in a previous blog post, hybrid electric vehicles are offering the best of both worlds to consumers. Hybrid cars and trucks have an internal combustion engine and battery, for the environment- and wallet-saving benefits of an EV with the flexibility of a conventional vehicle.
They’re attractive option because their designs don’t require the modifications that OEMs would have had to carry out for plug-in hybrid or all-electric vehicles.
But hybrid electric vehicles have evolved even more, with micro hybrids now incorporating a stop-start mechanism that automatically shuts down the car engine during idling, and restarts the engine when the car accelerates (to make it even cooler, they also come with regenerative braking technology that converts kinetic energy from braking into power, which recharges the batteries). This reduces fuel consumption and emissions, ensures better fuel economy, and has the potential to save around 15 percent on fuel savings.
Earlier versions of micro hybrid vehicles relied on a 12-volt battery, but this didn’t pack quite enough punch for all the bells and whistles that consumers have come to expect from their vehicles. Newfangled safety, vehicle control and even entertainment features are difficult to run on a 12-volt system.
So the 48-volt battery was born, in order to cater to all the requirements of such vehicles.
The Global 48V Micro Hybrid Market New Market, With Nowhere to Go But Up
Stringent emissions norms, government policies and fluctuating fuel prices are all elements driving consumers and automotive manufacturers to go electric, and the next four years will be a period of exponential growth for the market. In fact, the Global 48-volt Micro Hybrid Market is expecting a CAGR of 81.45 percent over the forecast period of 2013-2018.
According to a January 2013 article from Automotive News, Johnson Controls Inc. has been developing a 48-volt lithium ion battery for the European automotive market. Because of the huge potential here, big international automakers are fighting to be the first to incorporate the new technology into their hybrid vehicles. So far, Audi appears to be the first big manufacturer to adopt the 48-volt system, but it’s a sure bet that other automotive giants like BMW, General Motors, Toyota and Volkswagon aren’t far behind.
The market, as well as the 48-volt technology itself is still in its infancy, but the presence of many big international players with strong footholds in the market, increasing R&D budgets, as well as regional and local vendors supplying products at competitive prices will service to drive up competition and market projections even more.
