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The present disclosure describes systems and methods for recharging a storage catalyst of an internal combustion engine. A method is described, comprising: while operating an engine in a substoichiometric operating mode when the engine is under medium load and responsive to an LNT condition, assisti

The present disclosure describes systems and methods for recharging a storage catalyst of an internal combustion engine. A method is described, comprising: while operating an engine in a substoichiometric operating mode when the engine is under medium load and responsive to an LNT condition, assisting the engine with an electric machine connected to an engine crankshaft. The electric machine provides an auxiliary drive to assist the engine in maintaining the substantially steady state substoichiometric operating mode which may be used to reduce NOx or SOx build up in a storage catalytic convertor or to assay the condition of a storage catalytic convertor.

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1. A method, comprising: initiating and maintaining a substoichiometric operating mode of an internal combustion engine with a constant air ratio λ,wherein, the internal combustion engine has an exhaust gas discharge system for discharging exhaust gases and at least one exhaust gas aftertreatment sy

1. A method, comprising: initiating and maintaining a substoichiometric operating mode of an internal combustion engine with a constant air ratio λ,wherein, the internal combustion engine has an exhaust gas discharge system for discharging exhaust gases and at least one exhaust gas aftertreatment system arranged in the exhaust gas discharge system; andswitching the internal combustion engine to a substoichiometric operating mode for a specifiable period of time,wherein, the internal combustion engine is switched to a substoichiometric steady-state operating mode in an intermediate load range; andconnecting an electric machine to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine to be used as a selectable auxiliary drive, when operating the internal combustion engine in the substoichiometric steady-state operating mode and the intermediate load range in which the internal combustion engine is switched to the steady-state operating mode comprises loads between 30% and 70% of a maximum load at the prevailing engine speed. 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the internal combustion engine is switched to the substoichiometric steady-state operating mode where λλ>0.9. 4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the internal combustion engine is switched to the substoichiometric steady-state operating mode where 1 >λ>0.95. 5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the internal combustion engine is switched to the substoichiometric steady-state operating mode where 0.97 >λ>0.93. 6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the intermediate load range in which the internal combustion engine is switched to the steady-state operating mode comprises loads between 40% and 60% of the maximum load at the prevailing engine speed. 7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electric machine absorbs excess power supplied by the internal combustion engine as a selectable generator. 8. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising switching the internal combustion engine to a specifiable operating point in the intermediate load range before the internal combustion engine is switched to the substoichiometric steady-state operating mode. 9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the specifiable operating point is selected from a limited list of operating points. 10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein initiating the substoichiometric steady-state operating mode is achieved by reducing λ by increasing a quantity of fuel injected. 11. A method, comprising: initiating and maintaining a substoichiometric operating mode of an internal combustion engine with a constant air ratio λ,wherein, the internal combustion engine has an exhaust gas discharge system for discharging exhaust gases and at least one exhaust gas aftertreatment system arranged in the exhaust gas discharge system; andswitching the internal combustion engine to a substoichiometric operating mode for a specifiable period of time,wherein, the internal combustion engine is switched to a substoichiometric steady-state operating mode in an intermediate load range; andconnecting an electric machine to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine to be used as a selectable auxiliary drive when operating the internal combustion engine in the substoichiometric steady-state operating mode wherein the intermediate load range in which the internal combustion engine is switched to the substoichiometric steady-state operating mode comprises loads between 20% and 80% of a maximum load at a prevailing engine speed. 12. A method, comprising: while operating an engine in a sub stoichiometric operating mode when the engine is under medium load and responsive to an LNT condition, assisting the engine with an electric machine connected to an engine crankshaft, wherein the condition of the LNT storage convertor is a duration since a last diagnostic test. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the condition of the LNT storage convertor is a NOx level. 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the condition of the LNT storage convertor is a SOx level. 15. The method of claim 12, wherein the electric machine is powered by a rechargeable power storage unit. 16. The method of claim 12, further comprising adjusting an amount of the assisting based on an engine load and a degree of richness in the sub stoichiometric operating mode. 17. The method of claim 12, further comprising during high and low load conditions, operating the engine in the substoichiometric operating mode responsive to the LNT condition without assisting the engine with the electric machine.