Low voltage
Unlike iV cars, e-TEC models use 48V technology. The combustion part of the powertrain is based on standard car engines; unlike them, however, the alternator is replaced by an electric motor that also works in generator mode and a 48V li-ion battery.
The electric motor is connected to the combustion engine by a drive belt, via which it can either boost the combustion engine’s performance or recuperate energy and store it in the battery.
The electric motor boosts overall performance here by several kilowatts, mainly at lower revs, for example when getting underway from a standing start. e-TEC cars can’t offer a fully electric drive but, like iV cars, they can cruise at higher speeds with the combustion engine deactivated. At that moment the onboard network is supplied by electricity from the 48V battery which takes care of all the required auxiliary functions, such as power steering. Thanks to the electric motor, the subsequent quick restart of the combustion engine is almost unnoticeable for users.
The result is reduced fuel consumption and thus also reduced CO2 emissions without compromising maximum performance, unlike conventional engine systems without the e–TEC designation. In the case of the OCTAVIA, there is an 81 kW version with the 1.0 TSI e-TEC and 110 kW version with the 1.5 TSI e-TEC.