Powering the Automotive Revolution: From Zonal Architecture to 48V

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The automotive industry is in the midst of a massive transformation. Over the past decade, cars are increasingly being equipped with advanced features that provide customers with greater safety, comfort, ease of use, and enjoyment. That includes everything from heated seats to infotainment screens, safety cameras to high-end sound systems. Some of the most innovative vehicles are fully self-driving cars and robotaxis.

All of these state-of-the-art additions to the driving experience require power — a lot of it. This means that the traditional 12V system that’s dominated the auto industry for the last 70 years must change to 48V to provide the high level of power needed. But in order to achieve this major shift, the industry first has to adopt a simplified, streamlined zonal architecture.

The Shift from Domain to Zonal Is Critical

Traditional domain architectures that group electronic control units (ECUs) by functionality rather than location are not optimized to handle the power requirements and safety features of 48V systems due to complex, heavy wiring harnesses; large communication delays; and numerous ECUs that require a great deal of space.

Zonal architecture, on the other hand, groups ECUs based on physical location, which allows for a simpler, lighter wiring harness; smaller communication delays; and centralized computing with greater integration. Moving from domain to zonal architecture will not only lead to increased energy efficiency, safety, and reliability — it will also pave the way toward a 48V transition that the auto industry is beginning to demand.

Your Partner in the Automotive Transition

MPS has consistently been at the forefront of technological innovation. We’ve been working on providing solutions to the automotive industry’s biggest challenges for years, long before those challenges were even recognized by the industry’s major players.

During that time, we’ve amassed deep knowledge that is enabling our product development. For example, the MPQ5884-AEC1, an 80V e-fuse, is ideal for zonal architecture because it delivers high density in a very small package, provides faster response, protects against harmful voltage and temperature, and offers diagnostics and monitoring. Our system-level thinking encompasses the entire vehicle structure, making our current products inherently safer, smarter, and more efficient. Our roadmap of future products focuses heavily on zonal architecture and 48V.

We also have the expertise to help you design the ideal zonal architecture to meet the specific needs of your application. We’ll establish a close relationship with you, guiding you throughout your development process and serving as your advisor whenever we’re needed. Our breadth of understanding of the industry, coupled with our deep relationships with Tier 1 automakers, make us an ideal partner as you navigate the transition to zonal architecture. We’re perfectly positioned to help you prepare for the ultimate conversion to a 48V future.