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New fuel saving changes coming to your car
Topic Started: Mar 18 2012, 04:01 AM (298 Views)
Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
Interesting. My Odyssey has an ECO feature that shuts down 3 cylinders while there is not a load on the engine, but this is different.

Quote:
 
Why Our Favorite Vehicles Are Conking Out at Red Lights
New technology saves fuel, but will be disconcerting to some
Posted: Mar 16, 2012

As I drove the new, redesigned 2012 BMW 335, I came to the place where I needed to make a left turn on a Monterey, CA road. I stopped the sport sedan to wait for oncoming traffic to pass. The engine cut out with a gentle rumble.

A problem? Out of gas? No. It was just the stop-start system kicking in, shutting down the engine and thus gas consumption. When traffic cleared, I stepped on the gas pedal, and the BMW responded immediately with perhaps just a hair of a delay, compared with a Bimmer without the system.

BMW has made the system standard in the new 3, and it will become standard on all BMWs just as it is becoming standard on an increasing number of new models.

The new 2012 Chevy Malibu ECO also sports stop-start. The system works a bit differently than BMW's. I had to strain at stop-lights and left-turn stops to even know that the engine was off. The transition from revving to stop and then to start was so invisible and quiet that I had to double check that the Malibu ECO actually had the system on-board.

The electric motor automatic stop-start system on-board the Malibu ECO, and other vehicles with a similar system, also cuts fuel to the engine entirely upon deceleration for more gas savings.

The technology has been wide spread in gas-electric hybrids but has now moved over to conventional vehicles to improve mileage and lower emissions by shutting off the engine when it's not being used. Instead, the car's systems, such as stereo, heater or air conditioner, gauges, lights and windshield wipers run directly from the battery, while the engine is off.

For some traditionalists, the system will be disconcerting. "There is no question that there are drivers and car buyers who are going to have to be walked through it--how it works and why it is on their car," says Rebecca Lindland, chief of auto industry analysis at IHS Global Insight. Indeed, Chevy and Kia dealers, to name two, have been put through extra training to make test-drives with prospective customers go smoothly for people to whom the technology is brand new.

Indeed, not all stop-start systems are alike. Kia Motors intended to put the system in its 2012 Kia Rio and Kia Soul, but has delayed equipping those cars with the fuel saving tech because journalists reviewing the vehicles criticized Kia's systems for being too rough when shutting down and re-starting. BMW is receiving criticism as well.

Over the next ten to fifteen years, the vast majority of new cars and trucks will adopt the system.

Johnson Controls, a leading supplier of the systems to automakers, says that the number of vehicles equipped with stop-start technology will at least triple within the next five years. Globally, Johnson Controls figures, stop-start tech will be standard in 52 to 55 percent of vehicles built in 2016, up from eight percent in 2010. The automotive supplier forecasts that nearly 25 million vehicles built in 2016 will come with an idle-stop system, up from seven million vehicles in 2011.

How much fuel does it save? Shutting down the engine while idling can reduce fuel consumption and emissions by up to 12 percent in conventional gasoline-powered vehicles. Secondly, in the drive to improve fuel efficiency, stop-start technology has an edge in costs over some of the more advanced fuel-saving systems. It's estimated that idle-stop costs an automaker no more than $1,500 to install, versus $5,900 for an advanced "clean" diesel engine and $6,000 for a full hybrid system.
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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Axtremus
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HOLY CARP!!!
Glad to see that the stop-start feature is making its way to non-hybrid vehicles. :thumb:
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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
Makes sense to me.
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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Copper
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Shortstop

Quote:
 
no more than $1,500 to install


That's nothing to the 1%ers.

And I hope my health insurance picks up the cost of a new starter every three months.

The Confederate soldier was peculiar in that he was ever ready to fight, but never ready to submit to the routine duty and discipline of the camp or the march. The soldiers were determined to be soldiers after their own notions, and do their duty, for the love of it, as they thought best. Carlton McCarthy
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jon-nyc
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Cheers
Mikhailoh
Mar 18 2012, 05:49 AM
Makes sense to me.
Absolutely. First time I drove a hybrid I was shocked at how quiet the on-off transition was. As it gets cheaper to do this, why not spread its use?

In my defense, I was left unsupervised.
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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
Assuming 120K miles over the life of the car, I think a 10% savings in fuel would easily pay for the addition. If you got 30 MPG and gas stays $4 a gallon, you'd save $1600. So it breaks a little better than even but reduces fuel consumption per vehicle significantly.
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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Rainman
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Fulla-Carp
I can think of a whole list of reasons why these technologies will not work.

But, I'd be wrong. It is amazing how designers/engineers have overcome so many of the issues of years past, in particular the destructive effects of uneven heating of various metals.

Technology is wonderful, though there are times when I long for the "good 'ol days" where I could replace a water pump for $28 on a Saturday afternoon. Now it's an $800 repair, because no mortal backyard hobbyist can get to the damn thing. . .
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kenny
HOLY CARP!!!
Repairs becoming impossible for the hobbiest is not a car accident.
I think dealers make much more money from their service dept than their sales dept.

After driving a hybrid for 8 years I've gotten so used to my engine stopping at red lights that it feels INCREDIBLY stooooopid when I'm in a regular car stopped at a red light burning gas, vibrating and making noise and exhaust. :doh: :doh: :doh:
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Copper
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Shortstop

Actually the better answer is to get rid of the stupid red lights - no wasted fuel and no need for new red light technology.

More Traffic rotaries or Michigan Lefts would be a good start.
The Confederate soldier was peculiar in that he was ever ready to fight, but never ready to submit to the routine duty and discipline of the camp or the march. The soldiers were determined to be soldiers after their own notions, and do their duty, for the love of it, as they thought best. Carlton McCarthy
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Jolly
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Geaux Tigers!
Starting an engine wears one out more than running it, due to lack of oil at the initial phase of start-up.

Wonder what they did about that?
The main obstacle to a stable and just world order is the United States.- George Soros
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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
I don't think that really occurs when it's just been a few seconds. The oil has not had time to drip down.
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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kenny
HOLY CARP!!!
I don't know crap about cars, but...

I think hybrids overcome some problem by using their electric motor to help get the gas motor going when the light turns green.

I wonder what that problem was and how these new gas-motor-only jobbies will solve it without an electric motor.

Maybe it was the starter.
I think hybrids don't have/need starters.
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