Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Aug 31, 2014
2015 Audi RS 5 TDI 48V Concept – A 380 hp and 553 lb-ft. of torque 3.0L V6 bi-electric turbo in action.
Following Audi Hints At the Future of the Turbo Diesel with a 48V Electric Turbo news from two months back, the 48-Volt idea appears to be gaining traction within the confines of the Ingolstadt, Germany automaker.
Long held as the holy grail of basic automotive electrification, 48V with 12V subsystems as opposed to standalone 12V systems allow lower current wiring – smaller gauge at less weight and expense -, and electrification of components far beyond the realm of 12V systems in use today. Besides mild hybridization and the electric turbo, the A/C compressor is another area where real fuel savings potential can be exploited.
And like all of VWs child companies, Audi is standardizing this future vision across its entire model lineup.
Moving to 48 volts represents another building block for facilitating the integration of new automotive technologies while increasing the power and efficiency of its cars.
As linked directly above, Audi showcased the scope of the 48‑volt electrical system with the technology demonstrators Audi A6 TDI concept and RS 5 TDI concept. Both models were fitted with the electrically powered compressor operating independent of the engine load which improves acceleration performance.
48‑volt technology is also ideal for the future of dynamic chassis control. Audi stated they will be unveiling a variety of applications in the field of on-the-fly dynamic chassis tuning.
The current state of the art technology has taken 12V systems to their very limits and in particular at low temperatures. Today, upwards of 3kW of power is needed from the alternator and battery and at 12Vs, the systems are reaching their technical limitations.
The solution is a second high voltage (48V) electrical system to complement the 12V ancillaries. The higher voltage means smaller cable cross-sections which translates into lighter cable harnesses with lower power dissipation. The 48V electrical system features new long lasting Li-Ion batteries that can and do deliver far more power than any std. 12V system based on the Pb-Acid. This attributes makes it an important element of the Audi electrifying strategy of for improving performance and efficiency of the next generation of drivetrains. Audi has already designed and put into concept use a scalable platform that incorporates the electrically powered A/C compressor.
The Li-Ion battery operates in conjunction with an all-new efficiency-optimized alternator allowing mild hybridization. Within this concept there are diverse ways of starting, controlling and deactivating the combustion engine as needed. The powerful alternator achieves an energy recovery output of 10 kW which together can add up to 10 to 20 percent improvement in fuel efficiency.
Audi Pushing the Automotive Technology Envelope Again
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