What does AMS on a car mean?
4 Answers
AMS on a car stands for Alternator-Management-System, which is a power management system. Here is more information about AMS: 1. Function of AMS: With the AMS power management system, the generator can determine the battery status through current sensors, adjust the generator load according to driving conditions, and control battery charging and discharging, thereby improving fuel efficiency and extending the battery's lifespan. 2. Battery: The car battery is an essential part of a vehicle and can be categorized into traditional lead-acid batteries and maintenance-free batteries. Since the battery uses a lead-calcium alloy grid, it produces less water decomposition during charging and has lower water evaporation. Additionally, the sealed structure of the casing minimizes the release of sulfuric acid gas. Compared to traditional batteries, these batteries have the advantages of requiring no liquid replenishment and having a longer charge retention time.
Once I drove my friend's new Mercedes, and he kept bragging about the AMS feature in his car. Later, I figured out that AMS here refers to the Air Management System. This thing is quite smart—just press the AUTO button, and it automatically adjusts the fan speed, temperature, and airflow mode. For example, on a hot summer day when you enter a sun-baked car, it first blows at maximum speed to cool down and then automatically reduces it. I remember one time when it was 38 degrees Celsius, I remotely activated the AMS via the mobile app in advance, and when I got in, it felt like stepping into a café. Nowadays, many electric and hybrid cars use similar systems, though some domestic brands call it a climate control system. By the way, regularly replacing the cabin air filter is crucial for maintaining the system's efficiency.
I only learned about another meaning of AMS when playing racing simulators—in the performance car world, it stands for Active Motion Suspension. The principle involves sensors scanning the road in real-time, adjusting the damper stiffness hundreds of times per second. During aggressive cornering, the outer suspension automatically stiffens to reduce body roll, while it instantly softens when hitting speed bumps. Porsche calls it PASM, BMW calls it EDC, but they're essentially the same type of system. Last year, I test-drove a modified car equipped with AMS, and while carving through mountain roads, the tires genuinely felt like suction cups gripping the pavement—my body barely swayed even during sharp turns. However, the maintenance cost for such a system could buy you a whole new set of shocks.
During new energy vehicle battery testing, the term AMS is frequently mentioned, specifically referring to the Battery Active Management System. This module acts like a personal doctor for the battery pack, monitoring the temperature and voltage of each cell 24/7. Once in the lab, we intentionally heated a single battery cell to its critical point, and witnessed the system instantly activate cooling fans while simultaneously limiting charging power. BYD's Blade Battery utilizes CTB technology, which integrates AMS—enabling automatic preheating in winter and cooling in summer. We once measured its balancing speed and found that a 400V battery pack could equalize a 0.3V voltage difference in just ten minutes.
