Mercedes-Benz is making headlines with its growing lineup of electric vehicles - the future of electrified luxury. The lineup of gas-powered vehicles has been getting its own form of electrification. It comes in the form of a mild hybrid system. What this system is, and how it improves your driving experience requires a bit of explaining, so Mercedes-Benz of Athens has put together this guide.
A mild hybrid refers to a vehicle with an internal combustion engine that is also supported by a small electric drive. The electric motor recovers braking energy ("recuperation") and makes it available later as additional drive power to reduce overall fuel consumption.
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.
With so many self-charging hybrids across the Mercedes-Benz range, you're sure to find the right model to suit your needs. Plenty of models from the Mercedes-Benz range now come with as self-charging as standard. This includes the E-Class, C-Class and GLC ranges.
Every GLE pairs turbo power with a hybrid Integrated Starter-Generator that can add torque electrically. Choose from the spirited 255-hp turbo-4 GLE 350, smooth inline-6 turbo 375-hp GLE 450, or potent 510-hp biturbo V8 GLE 580.
Mild Hybrid technology allows the ICE to shut off when coasting or braking, eliminates the belt drives that an ICE requires to run certain components, and powers the more robust electrical architectures that modern vehicle technologies require.
As a result, a mild hybrid can be up to 20% more fuel-efficient than the same vehicle without this type of powertrain.
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