Futuristic electric vehicle powered by an Integrated Starter-Generator System in a green landscape.

Revolutionizing Transportation: How Integrated Starter-Generator Systems are Shaping the Future of Electric Vehicles

Beau Callahan in Tech & Innovation June 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how cutting-edge power hardware-in-the-loop simulations are optimizing starter-generator systems, paving the way for more efficient and eco-friendly transportation."

Transportation systems have dramatically evolved, yet their reliance on petroleum contributes significantly to global air pollution. The urgent need for energy-efficient and environmentally friendly transportation alternatives is clear, driving the rise of more-electric and all-electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs).

For HEVs and more electric aircraft (MEA), mechanical engines remain vital, and power electronics converters are becoming increasingly important. These converters enhance controllability and efficiency, paving the way for innovations like the Integrated Starter-Generator System (ISGS).

The ISGS represents a key technology in reducing fuel consumption and improving efficiency in HEVs and MEAs. By combining traditional internal combustion engines (ICE) with electric drives, optimized powertrain architectures are emerging. Different types of electric machines, such as asynchronous induction machines (AIM) and permanent magnet synchronous machines (PMSM), are now operating as integrated starter generators (ISG), each requiring sophisticated control methods.

Understanding Integrated Starter-Generator Systems

Futuristic electric vehicle powered by an Integrated Starter-Generator System in a green landscape.

At its core, the ISGS combines the functions of a starter and generator into a single, highly integrated unit. In engine starting mode, it operates as a motor, using a controller to initiate the engine. Once the engine runs stably, it switches to generator mode, transferring power to provide for the secondary electrical needs of the vehicle or aircraft.

A prime example is the ISGS with a Common Motor-Starter Controller (CMSC), which acts as a motor controller during startup and a rectifier during power generation. This integrated approach improves power density and overall efficiency, streamlining the power architecture of the vehicle.

Key benefits of the ISGS include:

Reduced fuel consumption
Improved efficiency
Higher power density
Simplified power electronics architecture

To validate and refine these systems, power hardware-in-the-loop (PHIL) simulations are essential. These simulations allow engineers to test ISGS under realistic field conditions, ensuring reliability and performance. A special tool called the Integrated Starter-Generator System Emulator (ISGSE) has been developed to thoroughly test converters and emulate various motor drives and rectifiers, without requiring a connection to a large motor load.

The Future is Integrated

The development and validation of the ISGSE mark a significant step forward in transportation electrification. By using advanced simulation techniques, engineers can design and test more efficient and reliable ISGS solutions, accelerating the transition to a future where electric and hybrid vehicles dominate our roads and skies, reducing pollution and dependence on fossil fuels.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1109/tte.2018.2881052, Alternate LINK

Title: Design Of Power Hardware-In-The-Loop Simulations For Integrated Starter–Generator Systems

Subject: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Journal: IEEE Transactions on Transportation Electrification

Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

Authors: Lei Zhu, Dong Jiang, Ronghai Qu, Leon M. Tolbert, Qiao Li

Published: 2019-03-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is an Integrated Starter-Generator System (ISGS), and why is it important for the future of transportation?

The Integrated Starter-Generator System (ISGS) combines the functions of a starter and a generator into one unit. It's important because it enhances efficiency and reliability in hybrid and electric vehicles (HEVs) and more electric aircraft (MEA). By reducing fuel consumption, improving efficiency, and simplifying power electronics architecture, the ISGS plays a vital role in reducing pollution and dependence on fossil fuels. The system's ability to switch between motor and generator modes, exemplified by designs like the ISGS with a Common Motor-Starter Controller (CMSC), streamlines power architecture and enhances overall performance.

How do power hardware-in-the-loop (PHIL) simulations, specifically the Integrated Starter-Generator System Emulator (ISGSE), contribute to the development of Integrated Starter-Generator Systems (ISGS)?

Power hardware-in-the-loop (PHIL) simulations are crucial for validating and refining Integrated Starter-Generator Systems (ISGS). These simulations allow engineers to test ISGS under realistic field conditions, ensuring reliability and performance. The Integrated Starter-Generator System Emulator (ISGSE) is a special tool developed to test converters and emulate various motor drives and rectifiers without needing a connection to a large motor load. This enables thorough testing and optimization of ISGS designs, accelerating the transition to more efficient and reliable electric and hybrid vehicles. Without PHIL Simulations using the ISGSE system design flaws may exist which would result in performance issues or project delays.

What are some of the key benefits of using an Integrated Starter-Generator System (ISGS) in hybrid and electric vehicles, and how do these benefits contribute to more eco-friendly transportation?

The key benefits of using an Integrated Starter-Generator System (ISGS) include reduced fuel consumption, improved efficiency, higher power density, and a simplified power electronics architecture. These benefits contribute to more eco-friendly transportation by decreasing reliance on petroleum, reducing air pollution, and paving the way for more-electric and all-electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). The ISGS's integration of traditional internal combustion engines (ICE) with electric drives optimizes powertrain architectures, making vehicles more environmentally friendly.

Can you explain the difference between how an Integrated Starter-Generator System (ISGS) operates in engine starting mode versus generator mode, and how designs like the ISGS with a Common Motor-Starter Controller (CMSC) facilitate this transition?

In engine starting mode, the Integrated Starter-Generator System (ISGS) operates as a motor, using a controller to initiate the engine. Once the engine runs stably, it switches to generator mode, transferring power to provide for the secondary electrical needs of the vehicle or aircraft. The ISGS with a Common Motor-Starter Controller (CMSC) acts as a motor controller during startup and a rectifier during power generation. This integrated approach improves power density and overall efficiency by streamlining the power architecture. The CMSC exemplifies how the ISGS efficiently manages power flow in both modes, contributing to the system's overall performance.

How does the Integrated Starter-Generator System (ISGS) compare with traditional starter and generator systems in terms of efficiency and architecture, and what impact does this have on the future of hybrid and electric vehicle design?

The Integrated Starter-Generator System (ISGS) combines the functions of a starter and generator into a single unit, leading to improved efficiency, higher power density, and a simplified power electronics architecture compared to traditional separate systems. This integration reduces fuel consumption and streamlines the power architecture of vehicles. The ISGS's ability to use different types of electric machines, such as asynchronous induction machines (AIM) and permanent magnet synchronous machines (PMSM), as integrated starter generators (ISG) allows for sophisticated control methods, optimizing powertrain architectures. This has a significant impact on the future of hybrid and electric vehicle design by promoting more efficient, reliable, and eco-friendly transportation options.