Revving Up Weight Loss: Cutting the Cords in Automotive Innovation

Vehicle makers have long been dreaming of cutting weight by swapping out heavy wiring systems for radio frequency tech. But according to Sampson Hu, founder of the UK antenna specialist Novocomms, going wireless isn’t as straightforward as it seems.

Wiring harnesses—one of the heaviest parts of most vehicles—can weigh around 150 pounds, which poses a big challenge for designers. Switching to wireless control could potentially cut a vehicle’s weight by up to 50%, so it’s no surprise that ‘wireless system management’ is a hot topic for every major car manufacturer. This push has only intensified with the rise of electric vehicles (EVs), where every bit of weight-saving counts even more.