The disclosure sets forth a spark-ignition, direct-fuel injection internal combustion engine selectively operative at an air/fuel ratio lean of stoichiometry and fluidly connected to an exhaust aftertreatment system. The exhaust aftertreatment system consists essentially of an electro-thermal heating element adjoining a converter element. A control system comprising a control module is signally connected to a sensing device and adapted to monitor a temperature of the converter element and operatively connected to the engine and operative to connect the electro-thermal heating element to an electric power source.