It’s called the “EcoDynamics+” powertrain and it aims to reduce CO2 emissions and offer cleaner diesel engines by supplementing acceleration with electric power from an additional 48-volt battery.
As the first new technology under Kia’s powertrain electrification strategy, the 48V mild-hybrid powertain will also serve to extend an engine’s “off time” using a new Mild-Hybrid Starter-Generator unit. 
The EcoDynamics+ diesel mild-hybrid powertrain features a compact 0.46 kWh 48-volt lithium-ion battery and a new Mild-Hybrid Starter-Generator (MHSG) that switches between two modes; motor and generator.
In ‘generator’ mode, the system harvests kinetic energy from the vehicle during deceleration and braking and uses the power to recharge the batteries.
In ‘motor’ mode the battery is discharged under acceleration, providing additional torque to the engine for a slight boost in performance under hard acceleration. Under deceleration, or when driving downhill or towards a junction, the MHSG switches to ‘generator’ mode, recuperating energy from the crankshaft to recharge the battery on-the-go.
The compact nature of the system means it can be easily applied into existing vehicles. Depending on the vehicle, the 48V battery will be located beneath the boot floor, minimising the impact on vehicle practicality, with no plug-in recharging required.
The Kia Sportage will be the first model to offer the new EcoDynamics+ diesel mild-hybrid powertrain later in 2018, followed by the new 3rd-generation Kia Ceed. Kia plans to launch 16 advanced powertrain vehicles by 2025, including five new hybrids, five plug-in hybrids, five battery-electric vehicles and in 2020, a new fuel-cell electric vehicle.
Kia’s EcoDynamics+ diesel mild-hybrid powertrain is compatible with both manual and automatic transmissions, and could be adapted for front-, rear- and all-wheel drivetrain layouts. The powertrain will also be adapted for use in gasoline engines.
