AutoblogGreen

Go PSA! It looks to me like PSA have no intention of their relinquishing their lead in Europe as the manufacturer with the lowest CO2 average. Fiat were just behind them in 2006 and the new Fiat camless engine, stop&start systems and new generation of multijets (1.6l as well as 1.9 twin varieties) are a serious threat to that leadership.
Go PSA!

PSA and Fiat make cars together (several classes of small to large utility vehicles), as do PSA and Toyota (Aygo, C1 and 107). This is isn't like the Germans simply buying engines from someone else (Peugeot engines for the mini or Fiat engines for Daimler trucks) but it means these manufacturers can seriously make cars together. Renault have embarked on an ambitious EV program for the ProjectBetterPlace. It's time that these other Renault-like manufacturers also got serious about EVs (not just hybrids) !

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Presumably, this only applied to Citroen vehicles, not Peugeots. Both brands are part of PSA Citroen.

Still, this is definitely a move in the right direction as it represents low-hanging fruit. It also improves emissions, especially from diesels, because engine-out temperatures at idling are so low they cause the aftertreatment equipment to cool down.

Moreover, by making the feature standard, unit cost comes down and no-one gets a free ride. The one issue is air conditioning in summer - a latent cold store aka block of ice can sustain service for a short period while the engine is switched off. Most engine stop-restart events are over in less than 40 seconds.

A cheaper option would be a toggle switch that temporarily disables stop-start so the A/C can keep running as long as interior temps are still above a certain safety-related threshold. Normal mode would be resumed when the switch is reset or, when the engine is started the next time.

The next steps in optimizing A/C operation for fuel economy should be auto-interrupt when a window is open, a CO2 sensor in the cabin (already available in VWs), paint compounds that block some of the infrared radiation (BASF Lumogen 1050).

It would also be possible to use special glass that becomes opaque to infrared at elevated temperatures. The yellow tint would take some getting used to and, the rear view and side mirrors might need to be replaced by a wide aspect ratio video screen fed by multiple video cameras whose output is stitched together electronically. This would have bnefits for safety and fuel economy as well. Roll-down windows might have to be sacrificed (cp. Citroen Cactus concept) but that saves weight and hence, fuel. The windshield has to be clear but could be double glazing.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn6256-smart-glass-blocks-infrared-when-heat-is-on.html

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#2: No roll down windows? To what opening of the car should I throw out coins at the péage then?

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@ Mattias -

roll-down windows would only have to be sacrificed if the IR-blocking feature is applied to the glass as a delicate coating that would suffer wear and tear in sliding contact. Saint Gobain already has (expesnive) glass and coating systems that block IR without giving the glass a tint, so they could be used for windshields as well. It's quite possible that cheaper and more robust approaches are already in development in the glass industry, as blocking IR is also of great interest to architects.

Btw, for passing money or documents to the outside, a tilting quarterlight or sliding cubbyhole is quite sufficient, though it would take some getting used to. Eliminating the roll-down mechanism and motor makes the door cheaper, lighter and more reliable.

http://video.google.de/videoplay?docid=-96855055045955472&q=citroen+cactus&total=26&start=10&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=1

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