Audi Showcases New 48 Volt Electrical System

Audi has announced plans to upgrade part of their vehicle electrical system from 12 to 48 volts. The system has been previewed on the RS 5 TDI concept and will feature a subsidiary 48 volt electrical system that incorporates new storage technologies and delivers more power when compared to the 12 volt system with lead batteries.

Well, it might not sound so brilliant or even exciting but Audi promises that the system will help deliver improved performance and efficiency. The RS 5 TDI concept had a supplemental electric turbocharger and Audi is also testing a mild hybrid system that uses a lithium ion battery. Besides this, the company is also looking at an engine start/stop system and an efficiency-optimised alternator that has an energy recovery output of ten kilowatts.

The lithium ion battery will power the car when the engine is shut off and this will translate into fuel savings of approximately 0.4 L/100km. According to Audi Technical Development boss Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, "We are using the full bandwidth of electrification in our drive principles strategy. Running part of the vehicle electrical system at 48 volts plays a central role in this. It enables us to make more energy available. That paves the way for new technologies with which we can make our cars more sporty, more efficient and more convenient to use."