Automotive Power Distribution Unit (PDU)

Design scalable, fail-operational automotive power distribution units for Software-Defined Vehicles, ADAS, and modern E/E architectures.

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Overview

Transform your E/E architecture with Infineon's automotive power distribution unit (PDU) portfolio. As a key enabler for Software-Defined Vehicles and ADAS, the vehicle power distribution unit must deliver fail-operational functionality and ASIL-D compliance. Infineon's scalable chipset solutions — PROFET™ smart power switches, AURIX™ microcontrollers, and OPTIREG™ power supplies — ensure seamless energy control across primary and secondary PDUs.

Benefits

  • Diagnostic coverage at 99%
  • Failure isolation time <100–500 µs
  • I2t wire protection
  • Capacitive load switching
  • Scalable chipset solutions
  • Idle mode for active during parking
  • ISO 26262 compliance up to ASIL-D
  • Configurability via software

Block diagram

About

What is an automotive power distribution unit (PDU)?

The automotive power distribution unit (PDU) — also called power distribution center (PDC) — controls energy flow inside the E/E-architecture and consists of two elements. The primary power distribution unit, traditionally called the 'pre-fuse box', controls the energy flow from the low-voltage battery to secondary power distribution units, zone controllers and high-power ECUs (> 30 A). It is increasingly electrified by replacing mechanical relays and fuses with semiconductors to meet growing demands for reliability and fail-operational systems.

Secondary power distribution units receive power from the primary PDU and further distribute it to all low-voltage loads (< 30 A) throughout the vehicle. Also, the secondary PDU is nowadays electrified enabling the transformation towards zonal architectures.
By using a semiconductor-based solution the secondary PDU functionality can be integrated into the zone controller significantly reducing wire harness complexity and length by moving closed to the endpoints.
In Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs), both primary and secondary power distribution units must ensure all-time availability and ASIL-D compliance per ISO 26262.  

Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) solutions
Zone Control Unit (ZCU)
Infineon’s platform-ready automotive PDU chipset portfolio

Automotive power distribution units require scalable, flexible semiconductor chipset solutions to accommodate varying degrees of electrification and diverse current requirements per output channel.Infineon’s portfolio — including PROFET™ smart power switches, AURIX™ microcontrollers, and XENSIV™ sensors — delivers the right solution for designing scalable automotive PDU. PROFET™ smart power switches, MOSFETs, and gate drivers are best-in-class for current scalability and adaptability. The AURIX™ family integrates PDU control with high-end computing — ideal for zone controllers — while TRAVEO™ microcontrollers provide a price-performance-optimized alternative.

OPTIREG™ power supplies, XENSIV™ sensors, and communication transceivers complete the chipset. Pin-to-pin compatibility across product families enables easy migration to next-generation automotive power distribution modules.

PROFET™ smart power switches
AURIX™ microcontrollers for automotive
Three generations of automotive power distribution systems

Three generations of automotive low-voltage power distribution systems currently coexist in the market, each representing a step toward greater efficiency and integration.

  • Generation 1 relies entirely on electromechanical components. Both primary and secondary power distribution units use fuses and relays to control energy flow, with relatively few secondary PDUs deployed.
  • Generation 2 focuses on wire harness optimization. Secondary power distribution units are placed closer to loads, reducing total wire length. Partial replacement of fuses and relays with smart semiconductors increases flexibility and system diagnosability.
  • Generation 3 is linked to zone architectures. The secondary power distribution unit is integrated directly into the zone control unit, optimizing not only the power distribution wire harness but also the in-vehicle network (IVN). At this stage, the secondary PDU is fully semiconductor-based.

Understanding each generation helps engineers select the right migration path for their automotive power distribution unit design. 

Zone Control Unit (ZCU)
Automotive Ethernet solutions
Fail-operational power supply via semiconductor safety elements

Automotive E/E architectures are evolving rapidly, with the automotive power distribution unit becoming the backbone of fail-operational power supply. To support software-defined vehicles, electromobility, and X-by-wire, smart power switches are deployed as semiconductor-based safety elements — replacing traditional fuses with superior performance.

These smart power switches deliver failure isolation in <100–500 µs, online diagnostics, and resetability — enabling ASIL-D power supply and supporting the transition to zone architectures. Infineon's smart power switches offer platform scalability, adjustable wire and load protection, capacitive load switching, minimal power dissipation, and low-power parking mode.

For functional safety design, Infineon's AURIX™ microcontrollers are best-in-class for ASIL-D, complemented by TRAVEO™ for ASIL-B (with ASIL-D island option). OPTIREG™ power supply solutions include easily implementable safety manuals to rapidly achieve functional safety goals. PROFET™ smart power switches are ISO-ready and partly ISO-compliant, backed by comprehensive safety documentation — offering the easiest path to functional safety in automotive PDU design. 

PROFET™ smart power switches
AURIX™ microcontrollers for automotive
48 V power distribution units for next-gen E/E architectures

Upgrade your 12 V electrical systems to meet escalating power demands for ADAS, autonomous driving, central computing, steer-by-wire, brake-by-wire, and infotainment — with Infineon’s 48 V power distribution solutions.

The transformation towards a 48 V E/E architecture brings higher power capability supporting more functions and improving user experience. This shift requires also automotive Power Distribution Units to operate at 48 V, controlling the energy flow from the 48 V low-voltage battery directly to the new 48 V ECUs or to 48 V Zone Control Units. For Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), the move to 48 V can enable significant system-wide cost savings through improvements in efficiency, power losses, and wire harness optimization — reducing cost, weight, complexity, and assembly effort.

Infineon actively drives international standardization for 48 V systems and its related products, ensuring designs align with current and future standards. Our broad Gate Driver and MOSFET portfolio — alongside the growing smart power switch range — enables a smooth transition to 48 V primary and secondary power distribution units, with pin-to-pin compatibility where it matters most. 

Zone Control Unit (ZCU)
PROFET™ smart power switches
Start your automotive power distribution unit design with Infineon

When designing automotive power distribution systems, engineers face a range of challenges: integrating fail-operational concepts via semiconductor-based safety elements, harmonizing the power distribution system with the in-vehicle network as architectures converge to zone-based designs, reducing wire harness complexity, and enabling platform re-use across vehicle lines and BEV variants.

Infineon provides comprehensive design support resources to accelerate your automotive PDU development: configurable block diagrams for product selection, application notes, whitepapers, evaluation kits, and datasheets. As a market leader in automotive semiconductors, Infineon brings unique product-to-system expertise built through years of collaboration with automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers.

Whether you are designing a primary power distribution unit, a secondary PDU, or an integrated zone controller, Infineon has the right solution for your design requirements. Contact your Infineon representative to get started. 

Zone controller design resources
PROFET™ product family and resources
What is an automotive power distribution unit (PDU)?

The automotive power distribution unit (PDU) — also called power distribution center (PDC) — controls energy flow inside the E/E-architecture and consists of two elements. The primary power distribution unit, traditionally called the 'pre-fuse box', controls the energy flow from the low-voltage battery to secondary power distribution units, zone controllers and high-power ECUs (> 30 A). It is increasingly electrified by replacing mechanical relays and fuses with semiconductors to meet growing demands for reliability and fail-operational systems.

Secondary power distribution units receive power from the primary PDU and further distribute it to all low-voltage loads (< 30 A) throughout the vehicle. Also, the secondary PDU is nowadays electrified enabling the transformation towards zonal architectures.
By using a semiconductor-based solution the secondary PDU functionality can be integrated into the zone controller significantly reducing wire harness complexity and length by moving closed to the endpoints.
In Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs), both primary and secondary power distribution units must ensure all-time availability and ASIL-D compliance per ISO 26262.  

Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) solutions
Zone Control Unit (ZCU)
Infineon’s platform-ready automotive PDU chipset portfolio

Automotive power distribution units require scalable, flexible semiconductor chipset solutions to accommodate varying degrees of electrification and diverse current requirements per output channel.Infineon’s portfolio — including PROFET™ smart power switches, AURIX™ microcontrollers, and XENSIV™ sensors — delivers the right solution for designing scalable automotive PDU. PROFET™ smart power switches, MOSFETs, and gate drivers are best-in-class for current scalability and adaptability. The AURIX™ family integrates PDU control with high-end computing — ideal for zone controllers — while TRAVEO™ microcontrollers provide a price-performance-optimized alternative.

OPTIREG™ power supplies, XENSIV™ sensors, and communication transceivers complete the chipset. Pin-to-pin compatibility across product families enables easy migration to next-generation automotive power distribution modules.

PROFET™ smart power switches
AURIX™ microcontrollers for automotive
Three generations of automotive power distribution systems

Three generations of automotive low-voltage power distribution systems currently coexist in the market, each representing a step toward greater efficiency and integration.

  • Generation 1 relies entirely on electromechanical components. Both primary and secondary power distribution units use fuses and relays to control energy flow, with relatively few secondary PDUs deployed.
  • Generation 2 focuses on wire harness optimization. Secondary power distribution units are placed closer to loads, reducing total wire length. Partial replacement of fuses and relays with smart semiconductors increases flexibility and system diagnosability.
  • Generation 3 is linked to zone architectures. The secondary power distribution unit is integrated directly into the zone control unit, optimizing not only the power distribution wire harness but also the in-vehicle network (IVN). At this stage, the secondary PDU is fully semiconductor-based.

Understanding each generation helps engineers select the right migration path for their automotive power distribution unit design. 

Zone Control Unit (ZCU)
Automotive Ethernet solutions
Fail-operational power supply via semiconductor safety elements

Automotive E/E architectures are evolving rapidly, with the automotive power distribution unit becoming the backbone of fail-operational power supply. To support software-defined vehicles, electromobility, and X-by-wire, smart power switches are deployed as semiconductor-based safety elements — replacing traditional fuses with superior performance.

These smart power switches deliver failure isolation in <100–500 µs, online diagnostics, and resetability — enabling ASIL-D power supply and supporting the transition to zone architectures. Infineon's smart power switches offer platform scalability, adjustable wire and load protection, capacitive load switching, minimal power dissipation, and low-power parking mode.

For functional safety design, Infineon's AURIX™ microcontrollers are best-in-class for ASIL-D, complemented by TRAVEO™ for ASIL-B (with ASIL-D island option). OPTIREG™ power supply solutions include easily implementable safety manuals to rapidly achieve functional safety goals. PROFET™ smart power switches are ISO-ready and partly ISO-compliant, backed by comprehensive safety documentation — offering the easiest path to functional safety in automotive PDU design. 

PROFET™ smart power switches
AURIX™ microcontrollers for automotive
48 V power distribution units for next-gen E/E architectures

Upgrade your 12 V electrical systems to meet escalating power demands for ADAS, autonomous driving, central computing, steer-by-wire, brake-by-wire, and infotainment — with Infineon’s 48 V power distribution solutions.

The transformation towards a 48 V E/E architecture brings higher power capability supporting more functions and improving user experience. This shift requires also automotive Power Distribution Units to operate at 48 V, controlling the energy flow from the 48 V low-voltage battery directly to the new 48 V ECUs or to 48 V Zone Control Units. For Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), the move to 48 V can enable significant system-wide cost savings through improvements in efficiency, power losses, and wire harness optimization — reducing cost, weight, complexity, and assembly effort.

Infineon actively drives international standardization for 48 V systems and its related products, ensuring designs align with current and future standards. Our broad Gate Driver and MOSFET portfolio — alongside the growing smart power switch range — enables a smooth transition to 48 V primary and secondary power distribution units, with pin-to-pin compatibility where it matters most. 

Zone Control Unit (ZCU)
PROFET™ smart power switches
Start your automotive power distribution unit design with Infineon

When designing automotive power distribution systems, engineers face a range of challenges: integrating fail-operational concepts via semiconductor-based safety elements, harmonizing the power distribution system with the in-vehicle network as architectures converge to zone-based designs, reducing wire harness complexity, and enabling platform re-use across vehicle lines and BEV variants.

Infineon provides comprehensive design support resources to accelerate your automotive PDU development: configurable block diagrams for product selection, application notes, whitepapers, evaluation kits, and datasheets. As a market leader in automotive semiconductors, Infineon brings unique product-to-system expertise built through years of collaboration with automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers.

Whether you are designing a primary power distribution unit, a secondary PDU, or an integrated zone controller, Infineon has the right solution for your design requirements. Contact your Infineon representative to get started. 

Zone controller design resources
PROFET™ product family and resources
Documents

Design resources

Partner solutions

Developer community

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