Accelerate your transition to
48V zonal architectures
Software-defined power distribution, from portfolio to design support
The move toward zonal and software-defined architectures is redefining how automotive power distribution is designed, validated, and scaled. Engineering teams now need greater integration, earlier validation, and more efficient paths from concept to prototype. See how ST connects key engineering challenges with system-level solutions.
A holistic approach to smart power distribution
ST supports this transition with system-level building blocks, a complete ecosystem of evaluation and debug tools, and deep application expertise. Together, these capabilities help developers move from early concept to prototype and toward scalable 12V and 48V designs with greater confidence.
ST’s system-level response to automotive design challenges
- Thick copper wiring increases cost, weight, and complexity.
- Relays and thermal fuses are slow and provide limited diagnostics.
- Multi-vendor designs increase integration effort and delay time to market.
- Need for quick part selection by application.
- Need for fast prototyping with production scalability.
- Testing constraints can delay issue detection until hardware is already locked in.
- Optimized 48V distribution cuts current by up to 75%.
- Smart power switches and e-fuses deliver fast protection and diagnostics.
- ST ecosystem: Stellar microcontrollers, gate drivers, smart switches.
- Interactive block diagrams simplify product selection.
- AutoDevKit boards accelerate prototyping and evaluation.
- Virtual prototyping enables earlier validation and faster design iteration.
From architectural complexity to system-level support, ST supports designers across the full development journey.
Live Webinar
Thursday, 24 September 2026
Address key power distribution challenges while reducing cost, weight, and emissions.
Dedicated solutions for key functional units
ST supports the main building blocks of emerging vehicle power architectures, from power distribution units to zonal control and high-power 48V domains.
A progression from distribution hardware to localized intelligence and domain-level power management:
| Power distribution unit (PDU) | Zonal control unit (ZCU) | High-power 48V domain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Replacement of legacy mechanical relays and melting fuses | Decentralized architectural "brains" and communication hubs | Actuation, thermal management, & energy conversion |
| Key benefit | Ultra-fast wire protection and real-time state-of-charge (SoC) diagnostics | High-bandwidth real-time data processing and native functional safety | Efficient handling of heavy dynamic loads (e-steering, e-braking, and HVAC) |
| System support | Intelligent power distribution for 12/48V architectures | Scalable zonal communication and distributed computing infrastructure | Bi-directional power stage management (12/48V) |
System-level building blocks supported by an innovative portfolio
ST offers a broad range of devices and building blocks for smart power distribution, zonal control, and the evolution of vehicle electrical architecture. Whether the target is a power distribution unit, a zonal controller, or a high-power domain, ST provides the semiconductor foundation to support innovative system designs across 12V and 48V networks.
Stellar MCUs, software-defined e-fuses, smart power switches and other solutions support the key functions automotive designers need, including power switching, protection, control, diagnostics, and communication. Modern power distribution is increasingly connected. ST solutions support communication across the vehicle network with protocols such as CAN, CAN-FD, and LIN for control and status messaging, as well as high-speed Automotive Ethernet for data-intensive communication between domains, helping enable diagnostics, coordination, and real-time status exchange.
Our interactive block diagrams help developers build flexible solutions for central, distributed, and zonal architectures while addressing the demands of safety, efficiency, and scalability.
Power distribution unit (PDU)
12V and 48V architectures with STi²Fuse smart switches and Stellar Arm®-based MCUs.
Zonal control unit (ZCU)
Smart power distribution and local gateway functions that support the shift to SDV.
Power rail switch (PRS)
Concurrent power rails for bidirectional load transfers between battery and DC-DC converter.
48V to 12V DC/DC converter
48V mild hybrid systems with buck, boost, and bidirectional operation.
Fully pre-validated ecosystem for rapid vehicle topology prototyping
To help engineers move faster from idea to implementation, ST offers evaluation boards, debug tools, and software assets that simplify prototyping and support a smooth path to scalable designs. Built on nearly ten years of fast-prototyping experience, AutoDevKit is a pre-validated ecosystem that combines hardware, software, and developer tools to help engineers explore vehicle topologies more efficiently. It supports early evaluation of power distribution, connectivity, diagnostics, and system partitioning, helping teams move faster from concept to prototype and toward scalable designs.
Explore the AutoDevKit boards and tools that bring this ecosystem to life.
A low-voltage PDU for compact designs
A low-voltage PDU for compact designs
A 12V power distribution unit with 10 channels, including 8 channels with companion P-channels for low standby current. It can be used as a secondary PDU inside a zone controller or as a building block for more complex primary distribution systems.
A 26-channel power distribution ECU
A 26-channel power distribution ECU
A 26-channel automotive power distribution ECU based on an SPC58NG MCU and STi2Fuse e-fuses. It supports 12V architectures, selective protection, fault isolation, and load management, making it well suited for zonal and SDV-oriented designs.
A discovery kit based on MCU with CAN-FD
A discovery kit based on MCU with CAN-FD
A compact discovery kit based on an SPC58EC automotive MCU with CAN-FD and a unified automotive connector. It helps reduce connection errors, improves robustness in harsh environments, and supports reliable plug-and-play prototyping.
A programmer/debugger dongle for MCU
A programmer/debugger dongle for MCU
A small, cost-effective programmer/debugger dongle for SPC58 microcontrollers, fully integrated with SPC5-Studio and AutoDevKit Studio for fast bring-up and shorter development time.
Beyond hardware-based evaluation, ST is building the foundations for virtual prototyping.
Looking ahead: virtual prototyping for earlier design exploration
ST engineers and experts are also working on virtual prototyping tool developments to further support early-stage architecture exploration. As car manufacturers increasingly adopt model-based and cloud-hosted development workflows, virtual platforms are becoming essential to validate ECUs, power architectures, and system interactions earlier in the cycle.
Today, TwisterSIM forms the first pillar of this approach by helping teams simulate system behavior, evaluate design choices sooner, and reduce reliance on physical prototypes during the early phases of development. It supports faster iteration, better-informed architecture decisions, and a smoother path to scalable Smart Power Distribution designs.
By complementing hardware-based evaluation, these capabilities help address pain points such as late hardware availability, high testing cost, complexity, ecosystem fragmentation, and the growing burden of long-term maintenance and security testing. Together, they lay the foundation for the virtualization of prototyping in future ST offerings.