The invention relates to an electric machine (10) which is embodied as an alternator, comprising a rotor (20) and an axis of rotation (183), a stator iron (17) which maintains a stator winding (18). Said stator winding (18) comprises phase terminals of winding wires (204), a rectifier circuit (151) which comprises at least one bridge circuit consisting of a positive diode (99) and a negative diode (58). Said positive diode (99) and the negative diode (58) are connected in an electrically conductive manner to the phase terminal of winding wires (204) by means of a metal connecting element (133, 146) which has two half arms (215). One half arm (215) is connected in an electrically conductive manner to a positive diode (99) by means of a connecting section (216) and another half arm (215) is connected in an electrically conductive manner to the negative diode (58) by means of another connecting section. The half arms (215) are oriented in front of the connecting sections (216) in such a manner that the metal surfaces (240) are oriented perpendicular to a rotational axis (183) of the rotor (20). The half arms (215) are arranged parallel to each other on a longitudinal section in front of the connecting sections (216). Said connecting sections (216) start respectively from a half arm (215) and comprise ends (217) which are aligned counter to each other.