[jabart]

Power steering pumps are electric and have one of the largest wires in my truck. With an EV you also have a heat pump, maybe a heater, coolant pumps now that you don't a constant spinning pulley, windows, lights, headlamps, power doors, seats, radio, amplifier, small PC, etc.

From the article "Switching to 48V architecture alleviates a huge number of challenges automakers are facing with 12V. The biggest one, though, is complexity: You need far less complex wiring harnesses to power all your vehicle systems"

My take is that 12v requires almost a dedicated power line for each part, while a 48v could run to a bus line that gets tapped. 48v might be something that divides easier with the battery pack, and drops the 12v battery.

[intrepidhero]

I hadn't connected the dots that all the various pumps (and fans) have to switch from mechanically connected to the engine via the accessory belt to electrically driven. That's a fair point.

[smileysteve]

It has been optimal to run accessories electrically for ICE already for several reasons. It has been difficult based on some of the loads on a 12v battery (agm has really helped this)

- Start stop is smoother (and more available) without accessories

- Cooling a turbo after the motor is off - true for the engine as well, heat soak on water pump off can go ~20f over the thermostat

- Brake Boosting without a vacuum (Valvetronic or Hybrid)

- Air Conditioning at idle

[lizknope]

> Power steering pumps are electric and have one of the largest wires in my truck.

Most new cars don't have hydraulic power steering systems anymore and use an electric motor for power steering. It improves fuel economy as well but the steering feel is generally worse than a hydraulic power steering system.