Checking and refilling levels
Residual current management system
Discharged battery
Energy management
The residual current management reduces en-
ergy consumption while the vehicle is station-
ary. When the ignition is switched o, it man-
ages the power supply to the various electrical
devices. In doing so, it takes into account the
battery diagnostic data.
Maintaining starting capacity has top priority.
Battery strain is considerable on short journeys,
city driving and in the cold season of the year.
Optimisation of the starting capacity
Energy management controls the electrical
power distribution so that there is always
enough electrical power to start the engine.
In these situations, a lot of energy is required
but very little is generated. If the engine is stop-
ped and at the same time the electrical devices
are switched on, the battery can become dis-
charged to a critical point. In this case energy
is consumed without being generated at the
same time.
If a vehicle with a conventional energy system
remains stationary for a long period of time, the
electrical devices, for example in the electronic
ignition lock, discharge the battery. Under cer-
tain circumstances, this can lead to a lack of
electrical power to start the engine.
Depending on the battery's charge level, it dis-
connects electrical devices one after the other
to avoid over-discharging the battery and to
maintain starting capacity.
In these situations you will notice that the en-
ergy regulation system performs active energy
distribution adjustment.
Dynamic energy management system
In your vehicle, a smart energy management
system is responsible for distributing the electri-
cal energy. This clearly improves the starting
performance and service life of the battery.
Energy generated while driving is distributed
by the dynamic energy management system
to the electrical devices according to their en-
ergy requirements. It also ensures that no more
energy is consumed than is generated, thus en-
suring an optimal battery charge level.
Vehicle stationary for a long period of time
If you do not drive the vehicle for a few days
or weeks, adjustments will be made to reduce
consumption or the electrical devices will be
deactivated one by one. This reduces energy
consumption and the starting capacity is main-
tained for longer. Some comfort functions may
not be available under certain circumstances.
The comfort functions will be available again
when the ignition is switched on and the engine
is started.
The main functions incorporated in the power
management system are battery diagnosis,
residual current management and a dy-
namic power management system.
Note
●
The energy management system also can-
Battery diagnostics
not override the limits imposed by the laws
of physics. Please note that the capacity and
service life of the battery are limited.
Battery diagnostics determine the status of the
battery on an ongoing basis. The battery volt-
age, current and temperature are monitored for
this purpose. This is used to determine the bat-
tery's charge level and eciency.
●
When there is a risk that the vehicle will not
start, the alternator power failure or low bat-
tery charge level warning lamp will be shown
››› page 281.
With the engine stopped
If you listen to the radio, for example, while
the engine is stopped, the battery will be dis-
charged.
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