Market and Technology Trends

Automotive 48V Powernet 2026

Jan 2026

48V powernet to take off, in combination with new generation of E/E architectures, requiring new semiconductor device segments in 8 categories

YINTR26527

Key Features

2021-2036 forecast for global light vehicle 48V powernet adoption rate (%)
2021-2031 forecast for global and regional BEV with 48V powernet (Munits and %)
2021-2031 forecast for global device market for 48V powernet ($M)

Workbook on 48V powernet adoption:

Vehicle powernet topologies.
Key systems to be upgraded (ZCU, DC/DC, motor control, BMS, etc.)
48V/12V DC/DC conversion
Database of semiconductor devices (in 8 categories) for 48V powernet: nearly 1000 part numbers

Economic aspects of 48V powernet adoption

Status of standardization and technical challenges

What's new

Motivation and status of 48V powernet adoption.
Economic assessment of 48V powernet adoption.
Global and regional forecasts of 48V powernet adoption.
Implementation of 48V powernet, from vehicle power supply topology, to reference designs of key systems, to power supply topologies, to semiconductor device selection.
Standardization of 48V powernet and technical challenges.
Adoption forecasts of global OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers in 48V adoption.
Database of key PMIC suppliers and parts for 48V powernet.

Report's objectives

To be the working reference book for the automotive industry for 48V powernet adoption.

Assess the economic effect and sequence of parts for 48V upgrading.
Compare the vehicle-level power supply topologies for dual power rails. (48V and 12V)
Provide reference designs of key systems in 48V upgrading.
Provide a comprehensive semiconductor component list for 48V upgrading.

To provide a complete overview of the existing and future semiconductor components for 48V powernet:

Provide almost all available semiconductor components in 8 categories.
Provide product roadmaps of all major power IC players for 48V powernet.

To provide guidance for 48V powernet adoption for supply chain synchronization:

Forecast the global and regional adoption of 48V powernet.
Provide the adoption plans of automotive OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers.

48V powernet, on the eve of new era for decades

Since the launch of Tesla Cybertruck, the first volume production vehicle with 48V powernet, this technology has drawn much interest throughout the supply chain. Over the incubation in the past years, it is expected to have a new batch of launches from various OEMs since 2027/2028 period, opening a chapter of a decade long conversion from a 12V-based to a 48V-based vehicle powernet.

Global adoption of 48V powernet will start with BEVs, to 2.02 million or 6.5% of BEVs in 2031, with a CAGR of 92%, with conresponding semiconductor device market growing to $ 293.0 million in 2031, jointly contributed by the increasing number of vehicles using 48V powernet, the growing number of systems converted to 48V, the increasing number of semiconductor parts for 48V powernet, and the decreasing unit price of semiconductor devices for 48V powernet.

The adoption of the 48V powernet in BEVs will further accelerate and reach 24% of BEVs in 2036, penetrating to PHEVs including REEVs and other hybrids as the supply chain matures.

Semiconductor components will be not a bottleneck

Yole Group identified 8 categories of semiconductor devices, which are necessary in 48V powernet adoption: PMIC & others / Gate driver / Motor driver / Converter IC / Power switch / MOSFET & transistor / eFuse / LED driver.

The limited supply of semiconductor devices for 48V powernet restricts the adoption. However, with the efforts from all power IC suppliers worldwide, the situation is quickly improving. All major power IC players are actively working on their portfolios, including the following ones detailed analyzed in this report (with validation from the players) and others with available devices to our best knowledge:

Detailed analyzed: TI / MPS / Infineon / Microchip / STMicroelectronics / Rohm / NXP / Allegro / Renesas / ADI / Nisshinbo / onsemi / Novosense / 3PEAK
Parts cited: Vishay / Melexis / Nexperia / Innoscience / elmos / EPC / KKchips / SCT

Launch plans of OEMs and Tier-1s shows the adoption will start from high end vehicles, and the high power consuming systems, such as new chassis systems, thermal management system, and body and interior systems.

48V powernet comes with new generation of E/E architectures

48V powernet is never a simple upgrade of voltage supply. It is part of the new generation of E/E architectures, with zonal controllers and smart electrical distribution.

Due to there large numbers of systems powered by E/E architectures, it is not possible to realize a full 48V powernet in short term. Among various hybrid topologies Yole Group analyzed in this report, Type 4, or a 48V based powernet in combination with local 12V loads powered by zonal controllers, appears to be the most competitive one.

There are some technical challenges to be solved as the voltage is increased from 12V to 48V. As discussed in the report, all of them would be solved with the progress in standardization and system designs: Dedicated standards for 48V powernet, arcing, creepage & clearance, EMC, etc.