Breaking Free: Shedding Pounds and Wires in the Automotive World

Carmakers have long dreamt of cutting vehicle weight by replacing heavy wiring systems with radio frequency technology. But, as Sampson Hu, founder of UK antenna specialist Novocomms, points out, making this wireless dream a reality isn’t as straightforward as it sounds.

Wiring harnesses are among the heaviest components in most vehicles, often weighing around 150 pounds, which poses a significant challenge for designers. Switching to wireless control could potentially reduce the overall vehicle weight by up to 50%, so it’s no surprise that ‘wireless system management’ is a top priority for major car manufacturers. The push for electric vehicles (EVs) has made reducing weight even more crucial, adding urgency to the development of wireless vehicle management in recent years.