hybrid
hybrid

Kia ups ante with diesel-hybrid

Riley Riley

Kia is getting set to introduce its first diesel hybrid powertain later in the year.

The new ‘EcoDynamics+’ powertrain reduces CO2emissions by supplementing acceleration with electric power from an additional 48-volt battery and extending combustion engine ‘off time’ using a new Mild-Hybrid Starter-Generator unit.

The Kia Sportage will be the first model to offer the new EcoDynamics+ diesel mild-hybrid powertrain later in the year.

The new third-generation Kia Ceed will be the second model to offer the new powertrain from 2019.

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Kia’s mild-hybrid technology features a compact 0.46 kWh 48-volt lithium-ion battery and a new Mild-Hybrid Starter-Generator (MHSG).

By electronically controlling the MHSG using the inverter, the system switches seamlessly between two modes: ‘motor’ and ‘generator’.

Connected by a belt to the diesel engine’s crankshaft, under acceleration the MHSG provides up to 10kW of electric power assistance to the powertrain in ‘motor’ mode, reducing engine load and emissions.

In ‘generator’ mode, the system harvests kinetic energy from the vehicle during in-gear deceleration and braking and uses the power to recharge the batteries.

In ‘motor’ mode the battery is discharged under acceleration, providing additional torque to the engine for a slight boost in performance under hard acceleration, or to reduce engine load during light acceleration.

Under deceleration, or when driving downhill or towards a junction, the MHSG switches to ‘generator’ mode, recuperating energy from the crankshaft to recharge the battery on-the-go.

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