PUBLISHER: ResearchInChina | PRODUCT CODE: 1979939
PUBLISHER: ResearchInChina | PRODUCT CODE: 1979939
Research on 12V/48V automotive low-voltage lithium-ion (sodium-ion) batteries: promoted by regulations and standardization, it is imperative to "replace lithium-ion (sodium-ion) batteries with lead-acid batteries"
On the one hand, the automotive low-voltage power supply mainly provides power supply to the electrical equipment in the vehicle, including windows, lighting, lights, clusters and various controllers; on the other hand, it provides power supply to the engine starter. For vehicle models with different energy types, the role of 12V/48V automotive power supply will be slightly different, mainly depending on whether it needs to supply power to the engine starter and its charging method.
Whether it is a traditional fuel vehicle or a new energy vehicle, it is inseparable from the support of low-voltage batteries. The high load of automotive electronic systems and the realization of safety functions all rely on the stable power supply of low-voltage batteries.
In the field of fuel vehicles, each vehicle is equipped with 1-2 low-voltage systems, of which a 12V low-voltage start-stop battery system is standard and is used to power start-stop functions and automotive equipment. Some mid-to-high-end OEMs, such as BMW and Audi, have further added 48V fuel-saving battery systems to improve the energy-saving performance and emission compliance capabilities of fuel vehicles.
In the field of new energy vehicles, each vehicle is equipped with a low-voltage system with a voltage of 12V or 48V. This system is mainly responsible for providing stable power supply for power battery relay switches, autonomous driving equipment, entertainment equipment, automotive electrical appliances, lighting and clusters. Overall, the 12V low-voltage battery has four main functions: first, it starts the vehicle; second, it serves as a redundant power source after the vehicle starts; third, it provides power to the vehicle's low-voltage electrical appliances; and fourth, it provides power to the vehicle after it is turned off.
A typical 12V lead-acid starting battery for a passenger car has a capacity of 0.6 kWh to 1.0 kWh. However, since the usable capacity of a lead-acid battery is generally only 30%-50% of its nominal capacity (due to the damage caused by deep discharge), the actual usable energy is far lower than the theoretical value. Lead-acid batteries are mainly used to start the engine and maintain power supply for low-voltage electrical appliances in the vehicle. It is not recommended to use high-power electrical appliances after the engine is turned off for a long time to avoid power loss.
Compared with the traditional lead-acid battery start-stop battery, the LiFePO4 battery volume is 2/3 of the same capacity lead-acid battery, and the quality is 1/3 of the same capacity lead-acid battery; in terms of cycle life: the cycle life of the lead-acid battery start-stop battery is 400-600 times, and the cycle life of the LiFePO4 battery is about 2000 times. Its advantages are long life, small size, light weight, environmental protection and pollution-free. The current biggest obstacle lies in high cost.
In fuel vehicles, low-cost, safe and reliable 12V batteries such as AGM/EFB batteries are still indestructible. It will become a trend for mid-to-high-end new energy OEMs to gradually phase out start-stop lead-acid batteries and transfer to low-voltage lithium-ion batteries.
12V automotive low-voltage lithium-ion batteries: Driven by regulations, mid- to high-end new energy vehicles are rapidly replacing lead-acid batteries with lithium-ion batteries in terms of 12V starting batteries.
Starting from July 2023, the EU New Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 gradually replaced Directive 2006/66/EC. To minimize the harmful impact of batteries on the environment, the new regulation will be implemented simultaneously in all member states.
For the first time, the new regulation covers the entire lithium-ion battery life cycle (from the extraction of raw materials to production, design, labeling, traceability, collection, recycling and reuse). The regulation applies to all types of batteries put on the market or put into use within the EU (except for military, aerospace, nuclear energy and other special purposes), mainly including the following five types of batteries:
Portable batteries (non-industrial use, sealed and weighing not more than 5kg)
Starting, lighting, ignition batteries (SLI batteries)
Electric vehicle batteries (EV batteries)
Light vehicle batteries (LMT batteries)
Industrial batteries (batteries designed for industrial use or intended for industrial use after reuse, or other batteries weighing more than 5kg)
Batteries need to meet the content limits for harmful substances such as lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, cadmium and other harmful substances in Annex XVII of Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) and the EU End-of-Life Vehicles Directive (2000/53/EC).
In the EU New Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, lead is one of the hazardous substances that are under key control. It has also been restricted in the EU Battery Directive 2006/66/EC, but it has not been completely banned. However, the Eu's requirements such as high proportion of recycled materials, recycling efficiency goals, Annex XVII of Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) and the EU End-of-Life Vehicles Directive (2000/53/EC) are actually forcing lead-containing batteries to gradually withdraw from the market. It will have an important impact on automobile 12V lead-acid battery starting batteries and gradually promote the use of 12V low-voltage lithium-ion batteries in cars.
The European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC) has launched "UNE EN IEC 63118-1:2024 12V rechargeable lithium-ion batteries for automotive starting, lighting, ignition (SLI) applications and auxiliary purposes - Part 1: General requirements and methods of test", which specifies the general tests and requirements for the performance of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries with a nominal voltage of 12V permanently installed on non-propulsion road vehicles. This document covers the replacement of non-propulsion secondary batteries permanently installed in road vehicles. The following are typical applications using batteries within the scope of this document: power supply for internal combustion engine starting, lighting, stop and start functions, automotive auxiliary equipment and energy absorption for brake regeneration.
China is also promoting the standardization of 12V low-voltage lithium-ion batteries. The recommended national standard "12V Rechargeable Lithium-ion Batteries for Automobile Starting, Lighting, Ignition (SLI) Applications and Auxiliary Purposes - Part 1: General Requirements and Test Methods" has been established, and the draft is scheduled to be completed in 2026. The standard is formulated to respond to the trend of new energy vehicles and smart connectivity, where 12V low-voltage lithium-ion battery systems will gradually replace traditional lead-acid batteries. Previously, OEMs had different technical standards. The introduction of this standard will unify industry norms, ensure product quality, and promote the healthy development of the low-voltage lithium-ion battery industry.
At present, CATL, BYD, EVE, Wanxiang A123, Zhuhai CosMX and other leading companies are deploying in the field of 12V lithium-ion batteries which are significantly lighter and smaller than lead-acid batteries, and require no maintenance for their entire lifespan. BYD has completely adopted LiFePO4 batteries for the starting batteries of plug-in hybrid vehicle models instead of lead-acid batteries. The Tesla Model S Plaid, the new Model X, the Chinese performance version of Model Y, etc. have also replaced 12V lead-acid batteries with 12V lithium-ion batteries.
In May 2024, BYD announced that it would fully promote the replacement of lead-acid batteries with lithium-ion batteries as 12V starting batteries in all of its DM-i hybrid models, marking that its low-voltage battery technology entered a stage of full maturity and popularization. More than millions of BYD plug-in hybrid cars have been equipped with LiFePO4 starting batteries.
SAIC has laid out low-voltage lithium-ion battery management applications and has installed them in vehicle models such as IM. OEMs have chip localization requirements for auto parts, and require pre-research on localized replacement of low-voltage lithium-ion battery management applications involving MCUs, power chips, power supply chips, half-bridge driver ICs, AFEs, etc.
SAICEC's low-voltage lithium-ion battery management (LVBM) solution:
Lithium-ion battery voltage and current measurement, PCB temperature sampling, lithium-ion battery SOC (State of Charge) calculation, lithium-ion battery SOH (State of Health) calculation, lithium-ion battery charge and discharge management;
Passive cell voltage equalization, power topology working mode management, over-current shutdown protection, self-learning and correction of SOC, SOH and other algorithms, and sleep wake-up management;
Based on the diagnostic refresh function of UDS and ASIL-B, the discharge path always-on functional safety level hits ASIL-D, with high reliability and a high chip localization rate (nearly 100%).
12V/24V automotive low-voltage sodium-ion batteries: Chinese companies take the lead in establishing an international standard for 12V sodium-ion batteries for automotive start-stop applications, and the application of automotive low-voltage sodium-ion batteries is accelerating.
In the context of the shortage of lithium resources and the abundant reserves of sodium resources around the world, the replacement of lithium-ion batteries by sodium-ion batteries has gradually become a focus of research in the new energy industry. Since sodium-ion batteries have shown their potential excellent performance improvement in terms of low-temperature performance, over-discharge resistance, safety and environmental protection, they are considered to be one of the potential alternatives to lithium-ion batteries and have broad application prospects.
Compared with lithium-ion batteries, the advantages of sodium-ion batteries include:
Abundant resources and low cost: Compared with the scarcity of lithium ions, sodium-ions have more abundant energy storage in earth crust elements, so the cost is low and can be a good supplement to lithium-ion batteries. In addition, the positive and negative electrodes of sodium-ion batteries are made of aluminum foil, which can further reduce costs;
Wide temperature resistance: high capacity retention rate in the temperature range of -40°C~80°C;
Fast charging and good rate capability: The same concentration of sodium-ion battery electrolyte has higher ion conductivity than lithium-ion battery electrolyte. At the same time, sodium-ions have lower solvation energy in polar solvents, giving them faster kinetic properties in the electrolyte and higher conductivity;
Ultra-long cycle: 20,000+ cycles have been achieved and 30,000+ cycles will be achieved in the future;
Safety: sodium-ion batteries can be stored and transported at zero voltage, with no transportation safety risks. In the event of a short circuit, they have little self-heating heat and no hidden dangers such as fire/explosion;
Production: they have similar working principles and material composition as lithium-ion batteries, and their production experience and equipment can be partially compatible.
The international standard for automotive start-stop sodium-ion batteries has been officially established, with Chinese companies taking the lead. On October 10, 2025, the IEC/TC21 International Conference on New Sodium-Ion Battery Standards was held in Wuhan, Hubei. This conference focused on the new international standard "12V sodium-ion batteries for automotive start-stop applications - Part 1: General requirements and experimental methods" proposed by Camel Group, Tianneng Battery, Jujiang Group, etc. This is also the first China-led proposal for a 12V sodium-ion battery standard for automotive start-stop applications. The proposal has recently been voted by the member states of the International Electrotechnical Commission Technical Committee on Storage Cells and Batteries (IEC/TC21), and was unanimously approved by the 17 P member states (active members) who participated in the voting.
So far, sodium-ion batteries have been applied in batches in energy storage power stations, two-wheeled electric vehicles, automotive start-stop power supply and other fields, and the "lithium-sodium hybrid" solution mixed with lithium-ion batteries is being explored. The EU still plans to maintain the sales of fuel vehicles in the long term, so that the popularity of start-stop systems will continue to increase and accelerate the global layout of sodium-ion batteries.
In the field of low-voltage power supply, sodium-ion batteries will compete fiercely with LiFePO4 batteries. The average price of sodium-ion battery cells in 2025 was RMB0.52/Wh. Based on the development of lithium-ion batteries, 50% of the future cost reduction will come from material system optimization and 30% from large-scale production; with the large-scale release of production capacity from 2026, the price of sodium-ion batteries is expected to drop by about 30% within two years. By 2027, the cost may be lower than that of LiFePO4 batteries in some scenarios. It is expected to drop to RMB0.25/Wh in 2030.
In May 2025, Camel Group unveiled its power-type 46145 large cylindrical sodium-ion battery which can achieve 10C continuous discharge, has a product capacity of 18Ah, a cycle life of more than 3,000 times, and an operating temperature of -40°C~+65°C. It is mainly used in fields such as start-stop power supply and shows good high-rate discharge performance, long cycle life and wide temperature adaptability. At the same time, the delivery of 12V 40Ah cylindrical sodium-ion battery prototypes to Chery and the finalization of the 24V 170Ah solution marked the real transition of Camel Group's sodium-ion battery technology from laboratory research and development to engineering application.
48V automotive low-voltage lithium-ion batteries: From traditional 48V mild hybrid electric vehicles (MHEVs) to new energy vehicle 48V PND (low-voltage power supply network)
In MHEVs, the main low-voltage rails for powering the E/E systems still have 12V, requiring large bidirectional converters between the 48V and 12V rails, which significantly increases costs. In contrast, HEVs, PHEVs and BEVs can use high-voltage batteries to create 48V low-voltage rails to power the E/E systems.
Especially in today's electric vehicles and autonomous vehicles, there are more and more electrical loads ranging from hundreds to thousands of watts: from high-power air conditioners and heated seats to autonomous driving domain controllers and computing platforms. A 12V system not only has huge current, but also has thick and heavy wiring harnesses, and power consumption and costs are soaring. 48V PND reduces the current to a quarter under the same power, making the wire harness thinner, lighter and with lower loss. According to the P=UI principle, current reduction brings two major direct benefits - energy efficiency improvement and cost reduction.
New energy vehicles (BEVs) will further introduce 48V PND (low-voltage power supply network) and integrate with zonal architecture to ensure these increased power load requirements.
Regulations are one of the key factors driving 48V PND to scale. As the subsequent 48V PND standard, ISO 25769 is expected to be released around 2028. The standard is expected to reduce maximum voltage requirements, as well as transient voltage, make them more suitable for the working environment requirements of 48V domain controllers. The standard will also quickly promote the maturity of 48V architecture solutions.
Standard: ISO 25769 "Road vehicles - Electrical requirements and tests for electrical and electronic systems and components with a supply voltage of 12 V, 24 V and 48 V".
Core goal: Establish unified electrical requirements and test methods for automotive electrical/electronic systems at three voltage levels: 12V, 24V, and 48V to replace and upgrade existing scattered standards.
Applicable scope: 12V/24V/48V systems and their components powered by generators, alternators or DC/DC converters, including wiring harnesses, connectors, controllers, actuators, etc.
The standard is currently in the Working Draft (WD) stage, with significant progress occurring in mid-to-late 2026: The Committee Draft (CD) submission is planned. Around 2028, it is expected to be officially released.
In order to support the work of ISO/TC 22/SC 32 (Electrical and electronic components and general system aspects) which is the ISO sub-technical committee under Technical Committee 22 (Road vehicles), the 31st meeting of ISO/TC22/SC32/WG2 was successfully held in Tianjin from January 26 to 30, 2026. The meeting focused on the feedback from various countries about ISO/WD 25769 "Road vehicles - Electrical requirements and tests for electrical and electronic systems and components with a supply voltage of 12 V, 24 V and 48 V" in the WD phase. ISO/WD 25769 has 3 parts, among which
"Part 2: Systems and components powered by DC/DC converters" are led by China and Germany jointly;
"Part 1: General provisions" and "Part 3: Systems and components powered by generators or alternators" are led by Sweden;
According to the work plan, the three international standards will enter the Committee Draft (CD) submission in mid-to-late 2026 and will be officially released in 2028.
Currently, only Tesla has mass-produced 48V PND (low-voltage power supply network) globally at this stage, and Tesla's battery-electric pickup truck - Cybertruck has upgraded its auxiliary battery system from the original 12V to 48V.
The 48V low-voltage lithium-ion battery of Cybertruck is arranged in the middle area of the front cabin and is fixed to the vehicle through two bolts. The torque of the bolts is 8Nm.
The 48V lithium-ion battery is provided by Zhuhai CosMX. The 48V power supply uses 4Ah cells configured as 1P13S, with a rated voltage of 41.6V. This gives a nominal voltage of 3.2V per cell, indicating they are LiFePO4 cells.