Filed under: Manufacturing/Plants, BMW, MINI
Bosch delivers 500,000 auto start/stop starters
German automotive supplier Bosch has announced that it has provided nearly half a million start/stop systems for BMW and Mini since launching the system. Bosch also announced that three additional manufacturers will introduce its technology withing the next few months. If you didn't know, Start/Stop technology allows the engine to shut down when the car is not moving, for instance, during traffic jams or at red traffic lights. When the gear is engaged or the accelerator pedal is pressed, the engine automatically starts again. According to Bosch, their system cuts fuel consumption by up to five percent in the European Driving Cycle, which translates into CO2 emissions being reduced by 8 percent. Bosch also claims that the system is more quiet and more reliable than conventional starters, and can also be used for cold starts in diesel engines.
[Source: Bosch]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Brent 4:13PM (7/15/2008)
Golf cart style cars! haha. I like the idea because the traffic lights here aren't configured very well. I hate stop lights. (I don't know what rush hour traffic is, I live in North Daktoa.)
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Fuzzball 7:56PM (7/15/2008)
I'm curious of what the power usage is of this verses a more traditional starter. If it uses less energy, I'd be surprised that it hasn't been more widely used even as a traditional starter. I'd much rather have a starter that started the engine faster and didn't use as much energy. From there going with a deep-cycle battery in winter climates could potentially be a good idea.
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Chris M 9:30PM (7/15/2008)
The photo is of a conventional starter motor with solenoid. The "auto-start" starter is different - higher power and higher torque, thus not needing to be geared down. Unlike old style starters, it can be permenently engaged, thus not needing a solenoid, and is much more reliable as a result.
Of course, hybrids have had this ability for years now. Time for everyone else to learn what having a really good starter is like.
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amg 11:04AM (7/16/2008)
It would be nice if there could be aftermarket variations available so that people could swap out their conventional starters for start-stop ones.
I have to say, though, that I've been doing manual stop-start with my conventional starter for over a year, and so far, no ill effects on my battery or the starter (a rebuilt model installed two years ago) which is still going strong. It really doesn't take long to start the car at all; if a car is ahead of me at a light, my car will start before the other car's break lights go off. I have a manual transmission, though; I've tried this with my wife's automatic and it takes longer because the car won't start with the selector in Drive.
I got about an extra 1-2 MPG boost just turning off the ignition at lights. I got an extra 2 MPG boost when I started engine-off coasting, so my 1995 Civic DX is getting between 35 and 36 in 50/50 city/highway driving. The highest I've attained was 37.5, which is what my car can get in all-highway driving. I also live in a hilly city, meaning that I can coast down some big hills but I also have to drive up those hills half the time, so I have no idea what the improvement would be if I lived in a flat area. All things considered, it's an easy way to save fuel until I can purchase a more efficient option.
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JeremySeattle 11:58AM (7/16/2008)
I wish GM or Ford would start implementing this technology in more of their cars.
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Matt 1:20PM (7/16/2008)
Yes, but can you put one of these on an older model Mini? It's easy to replace a starter motor, less so if you have to change other parts in the engine as well. I would love to get one of these for my Mini, but am unsure if it would work for my 2003.
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Brian Drake 10:43PM (7/18/2008)
You know what's really "funny" about this? Toyota invented the technology back in the 1960s! http://usera.imagecave.com/tuckerfan/idlecutoff.jpg So it only took 40 years for the idea to go from concept to common reality. Which beats hybrids, since they were invented in 1899 (by a guy named Porsche). http://www.hybrid-vehicle.org/hybrid-vehicle-porsche.html
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