What is a hybrid car? A hybrid car is one that uses more than one type of drivetrain to make movement. Most of the time, this means that the car takes gasoline to power an internal combustion engine and has batteries to power an...
How Does Mercedes-Benz Mild Hybrid Technology Work?
At the heart of the 48-volt mild hybrid system is the ISG, or Integrated Starter Generator. This is located in the transmission and connects to the driveshaft. As the name suggests, it replaces both the starter and the alternator that you would find on any non-hybrid gasoline engine. As a starter, it works in much the same way as a traditional one, except that it engages with the driveshaft instead of the flywheel. Because it engages with the driveshaft, more power can also be applied to give the engine a boost as needed. This happens most at low RPMs, giving you extra power while the engine gets up to the sweet spot of the RPM range. Unlike a belt-driven alternator, the ISG doesn’t produce electricity all the time, but rather when coasting or decelerating. To keep an uninterrupted flow of electricity, excess electricity generated during these periods is stored in a battery.
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