Volkswagen Golf 8 will also be soft hybrid at 48 V | How it works

He had already announced Volkswagen at the 2018 Vienna Engine Symposium: Golf 8 will be the first VW equipped with the 48V hybrid system. A year later, again at the Vienna Motor Show, the German brand has published the first details of the hybrid "" light "that we will find under the hood of the new compact. Volkswagen Golf 8 Soft Hybrid 48 V.

The system mild hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV) was created to support internal combustion engines (diesel and gasoline) by combining a 48 V Belt Start Generator, a 48 V battery and one DC / DC converter. Originally proposed on the EA211 evo family petrol engines, namely the 1.0 and 1.5 TSI badociated with the DSG dual clutch gearbox, but intended for the entire range of engines, the mHEV system allows reduce initial costs compared to other types of hybrids (eg the Pbadat and Golf GTE plug-in) thanks to a simpler and cheaper architecture | Guide to the differences between hybrid cars, light hybrids and plug-in hybrids.

In addition, it is Volkswagen itself that says the shift to electricity – which has already started with fanfare with the launch and launch of Volkswagen ID.3 – can not be based on the immediate departure of the engines to epidemic.

Generator / Starter Supports the engine in transient and acceleration phases, providing more inspiration when more power is needed, but recharging the battery when the accelerator is released and braked, regenerating itself until 40% kinetic energy. Also present sailing mode (FMA – Freewheel, engine off), which turns off the engine when the car is traveling at a constant speed and the regeneration of energy is counterproductive. This "smart" feature integrates with a predictive system which takes into account information from the navigator (speed limits or curves) to reach the destination with the optimal speed and thus make the most of the accumulated kinetic energy.

The re-ignition, according to VW, then takes place almost imperceptibly (we will verify it by a test) thanks to the starter / generator. The traditional starter only intervenes during the first cold ignition. The generator does not directly provide traction to the wheels, but "dialogue" with the drive shaft through the belt, supporting the engine. The 48-volt lithium-ion battery, located under the front pbadenger seat, joins the 12 V battery, which deals with the management of the traditional electrical system thanks to the DC / DC converter. The practical implications of the mHEV system? Increased acceleration and engine availability on the accelerator pedal e consumption slightly lower: we talk about 0.4 liters less fuel per 100 km.