Breaking News: Unpacking the Mysteries of Car Batteries!
Are you curious about the secrets behind your car’s battery power? Today, we’re tackling two pressing questions that have puzzled many: (1) Why don’t car starting batteries operate at 48V, and (2) What’s the truth about Tesla’s battery voltage?
Why not 48V?
While 12V is the standard for car starting batteries, it might seem like 48V would be more efficient and provide more power. After all, wouldn’t higher voltage translate to more oomph? Not necessarily! Here’s why:
- Efficiency losses: Higher voltage requires more complex wiring and higher-gauge conductors to reduce energy loss. 12V batteries have more efficient wiring and insulation, which keeps losses minimal.
- Cost: Moving to 48V would require redesigning and recalibrating entire vehicle systems, increasing production costs.
- Standards and regulations: Many car manufacturers stick to the industry standard of 12V to maintain compatibility and meet regulatory requirements.
Teslas: 320V or 48V?
Let’s clear up the myth: Tesla’s battery voltage is neither 320V nor 48V! The answer lies in their unique electrical architecture:
- Nominally 380V: Tesla’s onboard charger converts the AC grid voltage to 380V DC, which is the nominal voltage for their lithium-ion battery packs.
- Regulated down: The high-voltage battery pack is then stepped down to the required 350V DC for the vehicle’s power electronics, ensuring efficient operation.
Why the confusion? Tesla’s marketing materials might have fueled the misconception. The term "320V" has been used to describe their battery management system, which controls the charging and discharging of the battery cells. However, this doesn’t reflect the actual operating voltage.
Conclusion
Now you know the scoop on car battery voltage! While 48V might seem like an attractive option, the practical considerations outweigh the benefits. And when it comes to Tesla’s battery voltage, it’s neither 320V nor 48V – it’s a carefully designed 380V DC system that sets them apart from the rest.
Stay tuned for more electrifying updates, and don’t forget to bookmark our website for the latest car news and innovations!
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- Tesla battery voltage
- 380V battery
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Question 1: Why don't car batteries also operate at 48V like a Tesla, and basically be very rechargeable and high-performance like the batteries inside a Tesla? It'd recharge almost indefinitely, whereas my car batteries need replacement every 3 years or so, so it'd be better for the environment.
Question 2: Do Teslas operate at 320V, or do they operate at 48V?
View info-news.info by ForsakenEvent5608
Like most electric cars, Teslas have a low-voltage (12v) system that operates all auxiliary systems, and a high-voltage one that powers the traction motors.
I’m not clear where you got 48V from, but car batteries do not operate at that voltage because they’d need to be made much bigger and heavier to provide that voltage which also retaining the ability to safely supply very high currents, which is needed to drive the starter motor.
I don’t think it’s typical to have to replace a car battery every three years, but lead-acid batteries are easily recycled and are far more environmentally-friendly than the lithium-based batteries that electric cars use (the recycling of which remains a significant issue that must be addressed if EVs are to be widely adopted).
None of this really has anything to do whith physics though.
>Why don’t car batteries also operate at 48V like a Tesla,
History. They started out using 6 V because 6 V lead-acid batteries are simple ans 6 V was enough. They went to 12 V in the 1950s because larger engines needed more cranking torque which was hard to get with 6 volts. They haven’t changed to 24 V (used by the US military) or -48 V (used by the telecommunications industry) because 12 V works well enough and the changeover would be complex and expensive. You can buy a 12 V lithium battery for your car right now. Some manufacturers offer them as an option.
>Do Teslas operate at 320V, or do they operate at 48V?
The drive system operates at 320 V. The auxillary systems (lights, etc) will operate at 48 V.
[Edit] Have your charging system looked at. Three years is too short.
It’s an engineering decision.