drive by wire and 42V

[Eric Bryant]

> From: KasaRyan at aol.com [mailto:KasaRyan at aol.com]
> Subject: drive by wire and 42V
> 
> 
> Actually all the new saturn V6 cars are also sans throttle 
> cable, so I assume 
> the opel engine stolen for this model is also.
>

GM has a goal to convert 95% of their passenger cars to ETC
(throttle-by-wire) by 2005.  If they're that gung-ho on it, there must be a
tremendous cost savings (GM doesn't bother with technological advances if
there's not a cost savings).
 
> 42V was discussed by IEEE and SAE a few years back and is 
> definitely coming - 
> by 2003 at the latest.  Smaller wire, smaller output devices, more 
> efficiency.  Also allow the use of things like electric ac, 
> water pumps, and 
> steering assist.  Really helps when you have a hybrid type vehicle.

I don't know of any vehicle that's going to be running a 42 V system by '03.
I'm sure that some Japanese or German OEM is working on it for a high-end
application (BMW 7-series, M-B S-class, Lexus LS, etc.), but I haven't seen
any indication that there's any designs coming down the pipe for American
OEMs.

There's still some technological issues that need to be worked out for 42 V
systems, at least in the power conversion area (there's going to be a need
for 12 V supplies in these vehicles, and they're rather costly right now).  

Don't worry - you won't be seeing it on a vehicle that any of us can afford
before '08 or so.  When the changes starts, though, it's going to be quick -
it oughta be real amusing to watch the domestic OEMs fit something like this
into their 8-year-long design cycles.

Eric Bryant
mailto:bryante at ghsp.com
http://www.novagate.com/~bryante  
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