Mastering Power Distribution in Electrified Machines

In a recent article published on OEM Off-Highway, Oliver Lythgoe, CMO of FÉTIS Group, explores the challenges of power distribution in electrified off-highway machines. As power demands increase, higher voltages and currents require advanced technical solutions to ensure reliability and safety. The power distribution unit (PDU) plays a central role in this architecture, far beyond a simple electrical connection point.

Integrating a PDU into a mobile machine involves unique constraints: limited space, exposure to vibrations and altitude variations, and the management of direct current, which is more complex than alternating current. Thermal management is also critical, as high-power components generate significant heat that must be dissipated to prevent failures.

Oliver Lythgoe also highlights that electrical integration is often underestimated by OEMs, who lack expertise in high-voltage systems. This gap can slow development and complicate cost optimization. While off-the-shelf solutions may work for smaller machines, higher-power configurations require custom designs.

Finally, PDU development balances rapid prototyping with optimized industrialization. Early-stage designs use copper busbars for quick deployment, while series production favors power PCB technology, reducing assembly time by nearly 90%. This evolution supports the growing adoption of electrified off-highway machines, ensuring increasingly efficient and secure power distribution systems.

Read the full article on OEM Off-Highway: [link to the article]