Method and apparatus for eliminating carbon collected in an exhaust gas filter of an internal combustion engine

A method and apparatus for removing carbon that has been collected in an exhaust gas filter of an internal combustion engine utilizing electrical energy that is introduced via an appropriate electrode arrangement. In order to obtain a more homogeneous current flow and hence a greater (more rapid) burning of carbon without great expenditure, the thermal heating-up of the carbon is effected in exhaust gas conveying chambers and in the filter with the aid of an electrostatic alternating field that is induced between the electrodes and produces radially directed, axially equalized discharge currents, so-called shift currents.