Technology Stop & Start 'is gaining ground, but ...

While everyone is looking to develop the ecological vehicle par excellence, can use a revolutionary and expensive technology, we often forget that there are already solutions that have been proven. The contribution of hybrid technologies (gasoline / electric engines), is one and the use of increasingly widespread in Europe Stop & Start system, it is not necessary to disrupt an entire industry to find solutions inexpensive, a plan to develop fuel-efficient vehicles and especially less pollutants.

If you are looking for information technology 'Stop & Start', particularly on the Internet, you will be immediately directed almost on the French manufacturer Citroen. And for good reason, since it has developed expertise in the matter, which is already reference in the industry.

Citroen The system consists of two main elements:

A reversible alternator power of 2 kW serves as the starter and alternator (supply electrical energy to the network edge) and is mounted in place of the conventional alternator. The advantage of the boot with the assistance of a generator lies in the silent operation as well as in the rapidity of startup, or if you prefer 400 ms to 800 ms against a conventional starter.

An electronic box that manages full alternator and realized the connection to the engine ECU and the housing intelligent servitude.

Finally, a battery, a belt and a belt tensioner specific round off the device.

Simple operation

When braking to stop the vehicle, the engine goes to sleep just before the full stop has a lower speed 6 km / h; a green "eco" lights in combination, indicating that the clutch is opened.

In releasing the brake pedal, the engine restarts automatically and instantaneously; the green "eco" lights out. When the accelerator pedal is pressed again, the clutch gradually closes (SensoDrive box).

The deactivation of the system Stop & Start is always possible. Thus, the vehicle operates as a conventional vehicle.

The system can not work in the following cases: if the engine temperature is too low, if the charge level of the battery is too low during extreme outdoor temperature conditions (unless -10 degrees centigrade and more + 30 degrees centigrade), when the air conditioning is on, when the gap between the required temperature and the ambient temperature is too high, the activation of a demisting / defrosting the windshield and of course has the engagement of walking rear. 

The undeniable advantages

With models C3 and C2 now equipped with this technology, Citroen takes another step in bringing benefits in terms of noise and vibration comfort, economy and environmental protection. The gain in fuel consumption and CO 2 emissions are about 10% urban cycle and 6% on the combined cycle. When traffic is very dense, fuel savings can reach 17%.

Source: Citroen

Technology that would deserve more attention

Since Citroen has developed its system Stop & Start ', many manufacturers have also developed prototypes using this technology, especially on the side of the Europeans manufacturers. Citroen addition, we find that BMW sells versions has recently diesel engine equipped with this technology. Thus, some models of series 1 and 3 take advantage of benefits associated with this system. As owner of the franchise brand cars Mini, it is not surprising to learn that the Mini Clubman and a diesel engine, beneficient this option. Some versions of the little Smart Europeenne have such a system. The small manufacturer Daihatsu property of giant Toyota also offers a small car with this technology.

First used on small cars with manual transmission, technology Stop & Start 'is now used on vehicles a sequential box. The research carried out by companies like Bosch and Valeo on vehicles with conventional automatic transmission could democratize its use and the fact even bring most manufacturers to put more emphasis in the development of models that can use this technology, which used on a larger scale, could become less expensive and thus become accessible to a larger number of motorists. And while improving the fate of our planet, without having to dismiss all of the hand ...

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