The auto industry knows that more battery power will help keep vehicles moving in the advanced electronics age. But bigger batteries also could affect customer satisfaction.
Kenneth Waichenas, director of automotive marketing for Analogy Inc., a Beaverton, Ore., software developer for automotive electronic architecture, said that between 1 and 5 percent of most vehicle models come back to the dealership because of electrical problems. And in 70 to 80 percent of those shop visits, the cause of the problem is not found, Waichenans said.
He said that inadequate power partially is to blame.
'These things have a huge impact on customer satisfaction,' the marketing executive said.
He said that more battery power also will end up improving vehicle fuel efficiency. A 42-volt battery would allow electric motors to replace the belts that run off the engine. That siphons away engine power and fuel economy, he said.
