Will There Be Power?
Who remembers when you got into your car, turned on the radio and let it warm up? Back in those days' radios had tubes in them and instant on was only a dream. Today we have global positioning systems, satellite radio and Onstar. The only thing that stays the same is that things change. Look at how much cars have changed in the past fifty years. We have computer controlled engines, computer controlled transmissions and computers that make individual climate changes for you and your passengers.
But one thing hasn't changed much. That is the charging system and batteries. The last time the charging system and batteries changed was in the mid-50s when cars went from a 6-volt system to a 12-volt system. The last domestic carmaker to switch to the 12-volt system was Ford in 1955. Volkswagen went to 12 volts a few years later.
There are so many demands on the electrical system and with what is planned for the near future, the electrical system is barely holding it's own. It is estimated that in the near future there will be over 300 sensors built into cars in the next few years. The capability of the charging system and batteries is being taxed to the limit and soon won't be able to keep up.
In simple terms, there is a power shortage in modern cars.
