Mercedes-Benz Mild Hybrid Overview

Mercedes-Benz is making headlines with their growing lineup of electric vehicles which present an awe-inspiring view of the future of electrified luxury. But the Mercedes-Benz lineup of gas-powered vehicles has been getting its own form of electrification as well. This comes in the form of a mild hybrid system, formerly known as the EQ Boost system. What this system is, and how it improves your driving experience requires a little bit of explaining, so Mercedes-Benz of Akron has put together this guide.

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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.

The Benefits Of A Mild Hybrid System

Mercedes-Benz Mild Hybrid Gauge

Boosted Performance

Gasoline engines aren’t always producing the same amount of power. Horsepower and torque ratings tell you the peak number, but just off idle, the output can be substantially lower. So a major benefit of electric motors is they produce peak torque right from 0 RPM. That means a mild hybrid system can give your gasoline engine a boost at times when output would otherwise be relatively low. Mild hybrid systems typically don’t add much to peak power numbers, but they do allow for a more consistent and smooth application of power.

Reduced Fuel Consumption

A conventional hybrid system is generally built to maximize fuel economy, and this is done at the expense of performance. What a mild hybrid system does is allow a compromise, fuel economy is still improved, but so is performance.

No Range/Charging Anxiety

As we mentioned earlier, Mercedes-Benz has some absolutely amazing pure electric models. But electric vehicles aren’t practical for quite everybody yet, and if you’re in doubt about your ability to charge an electric vehicle as frequently as you need to, a mild hybrid gives you the advantage of partial electrification without a need to plug in.

Current Mercedes-Benz Mild Hybrid Lineup

This gets complicated. Not every gasoline-powered model has this system, and some models include it for some engine options and not others. So this list gets very specific at points.