Control Alternator

The alternator and charging of the battery is controlled by the Engine control module (ECM) using signals from the battery monitoring sensor about the status of the battery.

The Engine control module (ECM) calculates the engine's efficiency (need of torque for power transfer) and controls the alternator so that battery charging is maximized when "it is free" and reduces the charge when the engine's efficiency is low. i. e. when the engine's torque is needed to propel the vehicle.

Depending on the engine's efficiency, power consumption in the vehicle and the battery's status, the alternator is controlled as follows:

• Conventional charging
  • slowly
  • quickly
  • slowly without discharging
• Reconditioning battery
  • slowly
  • quickly
  • slowly without discharging
• Brake energy regeneration. Regeneration can occur in the following ways:
  • slowly
  • quickly
  • slowly without discharging