Many times I read that the electric harness of a car is many miles long.
I wonder if it could be simplified by using USB 3.1 for all. USB 3.1 can deliver up to 20 volts and 5 amps = 100 watts. Whereas most things in cars run on just 12 volts anyway. LED headlights use 25 to 30 watts.
My idea would be to have
1 usb cable to each door. A USB hub in the door to serve door latch, window, door lights, side view camera.
1 usb cable to the back. A USB hub to serve glowgos, door indicator lights, tail lights, rear view camera.
1 usb cable in the front. A USB hub to serve the lights and what else is there.
1 usb cable interior. A USB hub to serve whatever needs inside.The harness could be vastly simplified and save a lot of cost in components. USB wiring produced by the millions, hubs, cameras, screens and much more. Initially only the light manufacturers would have to integrate USB with a standard api to receive commands with a logic that leaves the lights on when there is no signal for safety.
The USB hubs could feature spare ports to add devices and features. Which makes upgrades very simple.
What do you think? Any electrical engineers here who understand this stuff ?
They're way ahead of that.
@BMW Bloch I read that Tesla is planning/doing something similar, reducing a LOT of wire weight/cost/complexity: One wire to supply power to the area (door, trunk, etc.) & then either one thin-strand multi-conductor cable for the signals, or it might have even been wireless like Bluetooth for signals.
120v for laptops in the cabin would be great!