Zonal Architectures and 48V Board Networks Are Transforming Automotive Design: What This Means for Power Semiconductors

The automotive industry is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the adoption of zonal architectures and 48V electrical systems. This shift is critical as modern vehicles, particularly EVs and hybrids, demand unprecedented electrical power for ADAS, infotainment and thermal management. Traditional distributed E/E architectures, with their complex wiring and numerous ECUs, are being replaced by zonal designs. These partition the vehicle into distinct regions, each managed by central controllers to significantly reduce design complexity while cutting costs and enhancing scalability. Concurrently, the move from 12V to 48V systems addresses escalating power needs, enabling features like hybrid powertrains and efficient thermal management. The convergence of zonal designs and 48V systems creates a synergistic effect by optimizing power distribution. This leads to lighter, more efficient vehicles with improved range and establishes future-proof platforms for OTA updates. While implementation presents early challenges related to development costs and supply chain realignment, companies that embrace these changes will gain a significant competitive edge. This evolution represents more than a passing trend, it is reshaping industry standards and redefining EV design to yield smarter, more modular and more efficient next-generation vehicles. In this session, Allegro will share its perspective on the convergence of zonal architectures and 48V electrical systems and what this industry inflection points means for the future of automotive power semiconductor design.