What does work is power over time. Electrical power P = voltage V x current I. So, for the same power motor, if your voltage is higher, your current can be lower and achieve that same required power.
Wires are sized for current, not voltage. Imagine the wire as a pipe, voltage as pressure, current as flow. A tight pipe will restrict flow more, resulting in more pressure loss. That loss electrically is heat. You don’t want your wires to melt, so you’d need bigger wires. Now, because friction is caused only by flow, not pressure, if you can achieve the same effect in the end with less flow, you won’t need a thicker pipe.
So, higher voltage means lower current, meaning cheaper, thinner, lighter wires and components.
How do smaller wires carry more voltage? Doesn’t more voltage need a lower gauge (wider) wire?
What does work is power over time. Electrical power P = voltage V x current I. So, for the same power motor, if your voltage is higher, your current can be lower and achieve that same required power.
Wires are sized for current, not voltage. Imagine the wire as a pipe, voltage as pressure, current as flow. A tight pipe will restrict flow more, resulting in more pressure loss. That loss electrically is heat. You don’t want your wires to melt, so you’d need bigger wires. Now, because friction is caused only by flow, not pressure, if you can achieve the same effect in the end with less flow, you won’t need a thicker pipe.
So, higher voltage means lower current, meaning cheaper, thinner, lighter wires and components.