LEMON Manuals: Even more car manuals for everyone: 1960-2025
Home >> Mercedes Benz >> 2017 >> GLS550 >> Repair and Diagnosis >> Engine Performance >> Engine Control Systems >> Electrical Drive System - 166 Chassis >> Basic Knowledge >> (Electric Drive, Basic Function - GF08.00-P-9901A)
April 5, 2026: LEMON Manuals is launched! Read the announcement.

(Electric Drive, Basic Function - GF08.00-P-9901A)

Electric vehicles 

The general way in which the electric drive operates is explained below.

General 

IMPORTANT In vehicles with two electric machines, the following explanations apply per machine.

The electric drive consists of the electric machine, the transmission and the power electronics control unit. Traction management is performed via the powertrain control unit (master control unit). This directly reads in the signal of the accelerator pedal sensor. Energy management is also performed via the powertrain control unit.

On the basis of the accelerator pedal position and further relevant vehicle data, the powertrain control unit calculates the required torque of the electric drive system and requests this from the power electronics control unit. The power electronics control unit actuates the electrical machine with 3-phase AC current via the integral power inverter and monitors the electric machine concerning temperature and the generated drive torque. The electric machine transmits the drive torque to the drive shaft via a permanently transmitted transmission.

The electric machine obtains the energy required for engine operation from the high-voltage battery via the high-voltage on-board electrical system. Charging the high-voltage battery takes place during driving in deceleration mode when the electric machine is working as a generator, or in stationary form through connection to an external power source.

To protect the electric drive system from overheating, the electric machine and the power electronics control unit are cooled.

The driver receives information about the energy flow and the charge level of the high-voltage battery via the multifunction display.

IMPORTANT Internal function sequences of the brake system, the 12 V on-board electrical system and the high-voltage on-board electrical system are not dealt with in greater detail here.

IMPORTANT During recuperative braking, the braking torque requested by the driver via the brake pedal is not implemented via the service brake but at least partially by the electric machine.

  Additional basic functions     
  Direction of travel selection, basic function Model 243, 293, 295, 297 GF08.00-P-1002A
  Driving mode, basic function Model 243, 293, 295, 297 GF08.00-P-1003A
  Overrun mode, basic function Model 243, 293, 295, 297 GF08.00-P-1004A
  Power output limitation, basic function Model 243, 293, 295, 297 GF08.00-P-1005A
  Electric drive monitoring, basic function Model 243, 293, 295, 297 GF08.00-P-1006A
  Electric drive activation, basic function Model 243, 293, 295, 297 GF08.00-P-1009A
  Electric drive deactivation, basic function Model 243, 293, 295, 297 GF08.00-P-1010A
  Electric drive charge level display, basic function Model 243 GF47.70-P-1001A
  Electric drive energy flow, basic function Model 243 GF47.70-P-1002A
    Models 295, 297 GF47.70-P-1002B
  Charge battery while driving, basic function   GF54.10-P-1002A
  Stationary battery charging, basic function   GF54.10-P-1006A
  High-voltage on-board electrical system, basic function Model 243, 293, 295, 297 GF54.10-P-1016A