I can drive my Niro PHEV for several months without using the ICE. How is that possible? How does the 12v battery get charged? Is there an alternator? Is it charged when plugged in to charge the traction battery? Of is it charged from the traction battery while running?
It the car is like my Sonata PHEV, then the car has a DC to DC converter. It does not have an alternator. However, it should have a hybrid starter generator, if like my Sonata, but that doesn't charge the 12 volt battery. The starter function fires up the gas engine and I believe the generator part charges the traction battery when charge mode is engaged. Edit, it looks like the generator function may be charging the traction battery every time the gas engine is running. So the car doesn't have to be in charge mode if equipped. From Chilton manual.
Thanks Marshall., very interesting. Not certain that the system is the same for Sonata & Niro, but certainly is plausible. What year is your Sonata & does it have the 1.6L ICE?
