The invention relates to an alternating current generator, particularly a three-phase current generator for a motor vehicle, comprising a rotor (20) with north and south poles, particularly with claw pole fingers (24, 25) extending in the axial direction, wherein the fingers alternate on the circumference of the rotor (20) as north and south poles, a stator (16), which has a magnetic core, particularly a laminated core (17), grooves (15), and a stator winding (18) disposed in the grooves (15) of the magnetic core. The stator winding (18) comprises end windings (45, 46), which can be cooled by a substantially radial air flow, which is produced by at least one fan (30) provided on the rotor (20), wherein the stator (16) is disposed opposite of the rotor (20) and wherein the stator (16) and the rotor (20) have defined positions in relation to one another. The multi-phase stator winding (18) is made of winding elements (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67), wherein at least one winding element has more than two sections inserted in grooves, and wherein at least one winding element (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67) has more than one reversal section, which brings about a change in the radial position.