Patent ID: 8292013

Claim:
A drive system for a motor vehicle having an internal combustion machine and at least one electric machine, wherein in the vehicle at least one electric system is provided for the electric power supply, as well as at least one energy accumulator, which comprises several energy accumulator cells, the drive system comprising: a control arrangement for controlling different operating modes of the motor vehicle, wherein the following operating modes of the vehicle are provided: acceleration of the motor vehicle with at least one of the internal combustion machine and the electric machine; smooth driving of the motor vehicle with at least one of the internal combustion machine and the electric machine; operation of the electric machine as a generator for producing electric energy; feeding of the electric energy, which is produced by the electric machine, into at least one of the vehicle electric systems; conversion of the voltage available in the vehicle electric system to a voltage of a further vehicle electric system; and symmetrizing or balancing of the energy accumulator cells of the energy accumulator while the motor vehicle is moving under power of the internal combustion machine, wherein the symmetrizing or balancing is initiated responsive to activation of a cruise control.