Non-railbound vehicle with an electric motor and an internal combustion engine powered generator wherein a low voltage source and capacitors are used to operate the generator as a starter to start the engine

A non-rail bound vehicle, comprising:

• an accelerator pedal;
• an internal combustion engine;
• at least one electric motor;
• at least one driving wheel coupled with the at least one electric motor;
• power electronics arranged and operative to supply electric current to the at least one electric motor;
• electronic control means for influencing the power electronics depending on a power requirement selected by a driver of the vehicle via the accelerator pedal;
• a generator operative to produce the electric current for the electric motor and coupled with the internal combustion engine, the generator being driveable by a current having an operating voltage in a medium-voltage range, the generator being configured to operate as an electric motor for starting the internal combustion engine;
• accessory electrical consumers;
• and
• low-voltage vehicle power supply means for supplying power to the accessory electrical consumers, the low-voltage power supply means including a battery connected to the internal combustion engine so as to receive current obtained by transformation of mechanical energy of the internal combustion engine, the power electronics including DC-voltage intermediate circuit means that includes capacitors and is connected downstream of the generator for powering the at least one electric motor, the electronic control means including a driving control programmed and operative to connect the battery to the DC-voltage intermediate circuit means to charge the capacitors before the internal combustion engine is started, the DC-intermediate circuit means being operative to supply current to the generator for starting the engine.