The Electrocuted Automobile
By Lance Winslow
It looks as if there will be newer cars coming out soon which have a 42 volt electrical system. Actually it will be a 36-volt electrical system with three 12-volt batteries in series. The good part is that it will create lower emissions because power steering pumps and air conditioning units can be mechanical in the future.

The bad part for us is if the electrical system has a short to the frame you could be electrified like a hot dog while washing. Some car washes are a little concerned that their employees might get fried, although if you look at some of the carwash labor these days you might assume their brains already are; remember the commercials; “this is your brain on drugs?” But seriously that could be a real bummer being electrocuted for a crime you never committed? Simply drying off a car extra good for a tip and “ZZZZZap!” Perhaps some carwashes may send vehicles with faulty system 42-volt systems to their competitors? And you thought your industry was competitively charged. Boy will they be fried, talk about EMP wars.

The reason they call it a 42-volt system is that it would be the same as a 12-volt system which is always charging at 14 volts so 14 X 3 =42. BMW, Ford, DaimlerChrysler are all working on these things. Which makes since if we build cars, which are hybrid the systems will be better situated to run in lighter