The standard conductive material used for automotive wiring is stranded copper cable. In pursuit of reduced exhaust emissions and increased fuel economy, aluminium is being (once again) evaluated as a viable alternative in order to reduce weight. The physical and electrical properties of aluminium pose specific challenges to its use within vehicles, and these are considered, together with a manufacturing process which addresses some of them.
The potential impact of a change to 42V for vehicle electrical systems is also discussed.
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