An internal combustion engine includes a piston oscillating in a cylinder linearly between a top dead centre and a bottom dead centre. A crankshaft driven by the piston via a connecting rod is connected to the rotor of a first electrical machine. The rotor co-operates electromagnetically with a stator of the first electrical machine. The stator is connected to a first current converter unit for bidirectional transmission of electrical energy. The rotor of a second electrical machine is disposed on the piston. The stator of the second electrical machine is disposed on the piston. The rotor of the second electrical machine co-operates electromagnetically with the stator of the second electrical machine. The stator of the second electrical machine is connected to a second current converter unit for unidirectional or bidirectional transmission of electrical energy. The current converter units are controlled by a control device common to the current converter units.