NOVELTY - The device has hot and cold circuits (1, 2) to circulate exhaust gas of an engine, and coolant of a cooling circuit, respectively. Positive and negative thermoelectric elements (3p, 3n) generate electric current in the presence of temperature gradient. P and N type cold fins (5f) allow exchange of heat with the hot and cold circuits. The elements are arranged in contact with the fins. The fins have conductive strips (32) that conduct the current generated by the elements. Each fin has a metal core (30) coated with a thermally conductive and electrically insulating substrate (31).    USE - Thermoelectric device for generating electric current in a motor vehicle.    ADVANTAGE - The thermoelectric device is configured such that the thermoelectric elements are associated with the fins to facilitate the intimacy of contact between the fins and hot and/or cold tubes, thus establishing efficient thermal bridge between the fins and the tubes and between the fins and the thermoelectric elements in a separate and inexpensive manner. The thermoelectric device is configured such that a compressible material is provided between the fins of a same pair, so as to assure absorption of mechanical stress generated by the expansion of the hot and/or cold circuits at the level of the material, thus avoiding the damaging risk of the hot and/or cold circuits, and hence reducing the overconsumption of material forming the hot and/or cold circuits.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The substrate is made of ceramic material. The thermoelectric elements are formed of positive and negative thermoelectric elements.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows a schematic sectional view of a hot circuit on a thermoelectric device.    Hot circuit (1)    Cold circuit (2)    Negative thermoelectric elements (3n)    Positive thermoelectric elements (3p)    P and N type cold fins (5f)    Metal core (30)    Thermally conductive and electrically insulating substrate (31)    Conductive strips (32)