Integrated starter-generator

A lightweight vehicle, said vehicle comprising:

• a chassis;
• a passenger compartment supported by the chassis, the passenger compartment comprising an accelerator pedal and an accelerator pedal position sensor;
• a plurality of wheels;
• and
• a powertrain operatively connected to at least one of the wheels, the powertrain comprising:
• a battery;
• an electronic control module;
• a transaxle;
• and
• an internal combustion engine structured and operable to generate power delivered to the transaxle, the internal combustion engine comprising:
• an internal combustion engine housing;
• a crankshaft;
• and
• a starter generator integrated with the internal combustion engine, the starter generator comprising a stator mounted directly to an internal combustion engine portion of the internal combustion housing and a rotor directly mounted to the crankshaft, wherein the electronic control module is structured to receive input from the accelerator pedal position sensor and operable to send electric starting current from the battery to the stator as a result of an operator depressing the accelerator pedal.