While the world is still divided on whether electric cars are eco-friendly or just another misguided effort to save the Earth, French automaker, PSA Peugeot Citroen will soon launch a new hybrid system coupled with its HDi diesel engines of the Peugeot and Citroën brands. Developed by Valeo, an independent French company, the second generation “stop-start” system will be launched by PSA Peugeot Citroën by the third quarter of 2010.
The system will be featured on both manual and automated manual transmission models and will equip a million vehicles by 2013.
This new generation micro-hybrid system, called i-StARS, differs from the previous generation, as the control electronics are integrated into the electrical machine, said Valeo in a statement released recently.
“The micro-hybrid system automatically cuts off the vehicle’s engine at a red light or in a traffic jam and restarts it when engine power is solicited. Carbon dioxide emissions are reduced by 5 gm per kilometer on average, and by up to 15 per cent in congested urban traffic,” the company statement claims.
To optimise fuel savings and make driving in the “stop-start” mode smoother, i-StARS can cut off the engine even before the vehicle comes to a complete stop, that is, as soon as the vehicle’s speed falls below 8 kmph with an automated transmission and 20 kmph with a manual transmission.
“Engine re-start is immediate (400 msec), noiseless and with no vibrations,” it said.