An exhaust aftertreatment system for an internal combustion engine has an exhaust system having at least one three-way catalyst near the engine, wherein a particulate filter is arranged downstream from the three-way catalyst, preferably in an underbody installation in a motor vehicle. A heated catalyst, which has at least one heating stage that can be heated by means of an electric heating element, is provided upstream from the at least one three-way catalyst and downstream from the particulate filter. The at least one electrically heatable heating stage is supplied with electric power directly from a generator that is operatively connected to the internal combustion engine, so that heating of the heated catalyst takes place essentially independently of the charge status of the vehicle battery.