A system for providing power to a vehicle includes a combustion engine having a low number of cylinders. A mechanically driven charging mechanism is attached to the combustion engine to provide pressurized air to the combustion engine and generate increased power. The combustion engine includes a 2nd order mass balance shaft that is operatively coupled to a crankshaft of the engine. The 2nd order mass balance shaft rotates at a higher speed than the crankshaft and counters inertial forces generated by the pistons of the engine. A compressor of the mechanically driven charging mechanism is attached to the 2nd order mass balance shaft, such that the mechanically driven charging mechanism is mechanically driven by rotation of the 2nd order mass balance shaft. The high speed of the 2nd order mass balance shaft drives the compressor of the mechanically driven charging mechanism.