What does the Buick Excelle 48v mild hybrid system mean?

[VonHazel]

Buick Excelle 48v mild hybrid system can be understood as a 48v mild hybrid. The 48v mild hybrid is an upgrade from the traditional 12v electrical system, solving issues such as high starting fuel consumption and low-speed vibration. However, the 48v mild hybrid is not a true hybrid in the practical sense, as the term 'mild' indicates it is merely a solution to reduce emissions and cannot achieve the fuel economy of a full hybrid. Currently, mild hybrid models on the market can be divided into two types: 'ISG motor' and 'BSG motor.' Among them, the ISG motor has relatively weaker functionality, mainly assisting with engine start-stop, while the BSG motor is more practical. The Buick New Excelle is equipped with a 48V mild hybrid system featuring a BSG motor. This system connects the engine and the motor transmission in parallel. When necessary, the 48V motor can provide sufficient torque to the engine, increasing the vehicle's power by 10KW and torque by 5-20NM during acceleration. During deceleration, it can convert the vehicle's kinetic energy into chemical energy to generate electricity for the motor.

[SanPeter]

Recently, many friends have been asking me what a 48V mild hybrid is. Let me use the Buick Excelle as an example. It's like giving a regular fuel-powered car a 'little assistant'—a small belt-driven motor is added next to the engine, paired with a palm-sized lithium battery. When you stop at a red light, the engine quietly shuts off to save fuel, but the AC keeps blowing and the music keeps playing; when you hit the gas at a green light, the motor immediately wakes up the engine, making the start especially smooth. The most important thing is that it can save about 15% of fuel in traffic jams, and the motor can also recover energy during braking and store it in the battery. However, repairs are more expensive than for a regular car, but fortunately, most auto repair shops can handle it now.

[NolanLynn]

The 48V mild hybrid system is actually a clever energy-saving solution. In the case of the Buick Excelle, this system essentially adds a 48V circuit architecture alongside the traditional 12V electrical system. A BSG motor, smaller than a mineral water bottle, is installed at the engine crankshaft end. Though compact, it plays a significant role: it can replace the traditional starter to instantly wake up the engine and provides an additional 50Nm of torque during acceleration, making the 1.3T engine feel like a 1.5T. The battery pack, hidden under the trunk, has a capacity of only 4.4Ah but enables features like coasting start-stop and acceleration assist. In city driving, the combined fuel consumption can be kept just above 5L/100km, saving about 1.5L compared to the regular gasoline version.

[VonAndres]

Just studied the Buick Excelle's mild hybrid system, simply put, it's a 'low-cost modification' while retaining the structure of a fuel-powered car. The core consists of three components: a motor hidden in the engine belt, a small lithium battery at the rear, and a control module responsible for coordination. The three most practical functions are: completely imperceptible start-stop (no more jerking from traditional start-stop), the ability to coast with the engine off when releasing the throttle below 40km/h, and the motor subtly giving you a push during acceleration. Compared to Toyota's strong hybrid system, it doesn't save as much, but it's cheaper, costing only about 8,000 more than the fuel version at purchase, and the fuel savings pay back in about two years.