A microturbine system for a vehicle and method of operating the microturbine system. The microturbine system is an automotive range extender that includes a generator to provide power to a battery pack of the vehicle. A compressor is operably coupled to the generator and a burner is operably coupled downstream of the compressor to burn fuel and heat compressed charge air from the compressor to form an exhaust. An aftertreatment device is operably coupled downstream of the burner to change a composition of the exhaust from the burner to form a treated exhaust. A turbine is operably coupled downstream of the aftertreatment device and operably coupled to the compressor. The turbine is configured such that a flow of the treated exhaust drives the turbine and the compressor to power the generator.