PLC noise and channel characterization in a compact electrical car

The use of power line communications (PLC) for the interconnection of devices inside vehicles is interesting because it can provide cost and weight reduction of the wiring harness. However, despite the compact size of the in-car electrical grid, high channel attenuation, low impedance access points, and high noise can limit the applicability of PLC. In this paper we report the results of a measurement campaign in a compact electrical car. We focus on the noise and channel response both in the narrow band range (30-500 kHz) and broad band range (2-100 MHz). We show that the electrical power drivers and DC/DC converters on board cause high noise which is more pronounced at low frequencies. Achievable rate analysis shows that the broad band spectrum is more suited for in-car PLC communications.