The second game-changer technology is mild hybrid electric vehicles. A mild hybrid is like a standard car with a fuel-burning engine and a 12V lead-acid battery but also includes an extra 48V lithium-ion battery and an electric drive.
The 48V battery can be used to power the car purely electrically for the first hundred meters or so after moving off, allowing a smaller and more efficient engine to be used without affecting acceleration. This also means that in heavy stop-go traffic, the fuel-burning engine will not be running. Thus, automotive manufacturers can meet the latest energy efficiency standards for urban traffic conditions without having to redesign the entire vehicle.
The 48V battery also allows for higher peak electric loads than a 12V system, so the air conditioning, power steering, and turbocharger can all be electrically powered at will and not constantly absorb power by being mechanically connected to the engine. With optimized control algorithms, the overall efficiency of the vehicle can be significantly increased.
What this all means for industrial applications is that 48V lithium-ion batteries will soon become mass-produced, low-cost items. As lithium-ion batteries are also more compact and lighter than equivalent lead-acid batteries, they are ideal as back-up supply storage elements for 48V systems.
The major difference between a 48V lead-acid and 48V lithium-ion storage battery is the allowed voltage levels. The traditional telecom power standards for a 48V input DC/DC converter supply are based on old lead-acid battery chargers with an 18–75V output voltage range. Lithium-ion battery packs must not be overcharged nor deep-discharged to avoid cell damage.
The 48V battery can be used to power the car purely electrically for the first hundred meters or so after moving off, allowing a smaller and more efficient engine to be used without affecting acceleration. This also means that in heavy stop-go traffic, the fuel-burning engine will not be running. Thus, automotive manufacturers can meet the latest energy efficiency standards for urban traffic conditions without having to redesign the entire vehicle.
The 48V battery also allows for higher peak electric loads than a 12V system, so the air conditioning, power steering, and turbocharger can all be electrically powered at will and not constantly absorb power by being mechanically connected to the engine. With optimized control algorithms, the overall efficiency of the vehicle can be significantly increased.
What this all means for industrial applications is that 48V lithium-ion batteries will soon become mass-produced, low-cost items. As lithium-ion batteries are also more compact and lighter than equivalent lead-acid batteries, they are ideal as back-up supply storage elements for 48V systems.
The major difference between a 48V lead-acid and 48V lithium-ion storage battery is the allowed voltage levels. The traditional telecom power standards for a 48V input DC/DC converter supply are based on old lead-acid battery chargers with an 18–75V output voltage range. Lithium-ion battery packs must not be overcharged nor deep-discharged to avoid cell damage.
