42 Volts Really Better?
There are several reasons to increase the electrical system voltage. Increasing the use of electronics, extending fuel mileage and emissions will lower and mpg will increase. For instance, if you make the water pump electrical the resistance and friction of moving coolant and the pump is gone. Also gone are the belts and pulleys making more horsepower available from the engine.
The same can be done to the air conditioning compressor and the power steering system. To get really fancy, if we use an Integrated Starter/Generator (ISG) driven by the flywheel, we could do away with a belt driven generator. Smaller and lighter parts can be made and since amperage will be reduced, lighter wiring can be used.
With a 42-volt system, the possibilities for new technologies and electronics that are impossible today will be seen in the vehicles of the near future.