Driving a car in a big city has its own characteristics. Perhaps the most unpleasant of them is standing in traffic jams, sometimes for a very, very long time. It happens that you stand and stand, then you drive, it’s good if it’s a kilometer, and then again...
But in addition to the nervous system, such a snail's crawl from one traffic jam to another significantly affects the wallet. While the engine is idling, fuel, and along with it money, is consumed.
To eliminate such pressure on the wallet, many cars are equipped with a START-STOP system controlled by the car's on-board computer. If the duration of stopping the car exceeds a certain pre-set control time, the engine is automatically switched off, and if necessary to continue driving, it is started by simply pressing the gas pedal. Thus, standing in traffic jams practically does not force the engine to idle and gives a fair saving in fuel and the money you would have spent on it.
But, as is the case with any useful innovation, the benefits and advantages of the START-STOP system do not come easy. When using the START-STOP system, your car's battery is under a lot of stress. An increase in the frequency of engine starts leads to battery discharge, and the short operating time of the engine (and therefore the generator) does not allow the battery to be fully charged. Therefore, with the introduction of the START-STOP system, a suitable battery was required for a vehicle equipped with this system.
The new battery for a car with the START-STOP system is based on the design of AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) batteries. In AGM batteries, the electrolyte is in a gel state and permeates special fiberglass bags in which each battery plate is packaged. AGM batteries are characterized by very high starting currents, and they maintain a uniform starting current value until completely discharged, which facilitates their use with the START-STOP system. However, the use of car batteries made using AGM technology for the START-STOP system is somewhat limited by the fact that fast charging is not one of their advantages.
Therefore, EFB (Enhanced Flooded Battery) batteries were created specifically for use with the START-STOP system. Like an AGM car battery, the EFB battery plates are packaged in microfiber envelopes, but the electrolyte that permeates them remains a liquid rather than a gel. To further enhance the properties of the EFB battery, its plates are doped with silver. With the same high starting current as AGM batteries, EFB batteries take charge faster. This makes such batteries almost ideal for a car equipped with a START-STOP system.
In principle, batteries for cars produced using AGM and EFB technologies have more in common than differences. We also note that the prices for AGM and EFB batteries are approximately the same. However, one very important rule should be remembered: if your car is equipped with an EFB battery from the factory, then it can be replaced either with the same one or, if necessary, with an AGM battery. But if your car was factory equipped with an AGM battery, then you should only replace it with an AGM battery.
So, we hope that our article helped you understand the advantages and features of the START-STOP system, as well as understand what type of battery to choose for your car. Have a nice trip!
Many of you have heard of a system called Start-stop and, of course, everyone at least once wondered what kind of system this is and what role it plays in my (or someone else’s) car. Today I want to answer all your questions and tell you what the Start-stop system is, its main functions, and why it is so beneficial for you, your car and the environment.
So, let's take it in order...
The Start-Stop system was invented to:
- Reduce the amount of harmful CO released into the atmosphere.
- and, of course, money.
- Reduce the amount of noise emitted by the car by reducing the operating time of the internal combustion engine at idle speed.
In the era of environmental disasters and global warming, ecologists and statisticians began to pay attention to the little things that are actually quite large sources of air pollution. So, once a study was carried out as a result of which it turned out that about 30% of the total operating time of the vehicle it operates at idle speed. I don’t think it’s worth explaining where this 30% comes from; every motorist knows how much every day he has to sit idle with the engine running at traffic lights, in traffic jams during rush hour, etc.
Therefore the appearance Start-stop systems is a logical solution to the problem described above. More recently, Start-stop was installed exclusively on hybrid models, but as practice has shown, cars with classic engines running on heavy fuel or traditional gasoline need it no less. Experts predict that next 2015, about 50% of all cars produced in the world will be equipped with a start-stop system.
We talked about the history and numbers, now let's figure it out, what is a start-stop system and how it works.
And the principle of operation of the Start-stop system is ridiculously simple and banal - you drive, the engine is running, it stops, the engine stalls. In this case, starting the engine after stopping it, for example, at a traffic light, occurs automatically when you release the brake pedal in , or when you press the clutch pedal in .
What does the start-stop system consist of? The system includes:
- Special control system.
- A device that provides timely multiple starts.
There are several principles for implementing the engine stop and start function, among them:
- Starting with a boosted .
- Using fuel injection into the cylinders and subsequent ignition of the mixture.
- By means of a reversible (starter-generator).
The simplest and at the same time most reliable from a constructive point of view is considered to be the system Stop&Start from the world famous company Bosch. It was the development of this company that became the prototype for all systems of this class, in addition, the name of the system “stuck” to all analogues produced by other companies. This story is reminiscent of the story with Webasto (the name of the company that invented the first engine preheating; as a result, now whoever produces such a mechanism is popularly called Webasto). The Bosch start-stop system is used to equip cars from the most famous companies in the world: Audi, BMW and others. According to research data, fuel consumption after using this installation has significantly decreased, and the percentage of harmful CO emissions was less than 8%.
This system is based on a special starter, which is designed for a huge number of engine starts and a much longer service life compared to conventional starters. The starter uses an almost silent drive mechanism, which guarantees instant quiet starting of the engine.
The Start-stop system is capable of:
- Start the engine.
- Stop him.
- And also monitor the charge of the battery.
The start-stop system is based on:
- Control unit.
- Input sensors.
- Executive devices.
By input sensors we mean: clutch pedal position sensor (or brake pedal in the case of an automatic transmission), crankshaft speed sensor, battery sensor, as well as several other less important sensors of the internal combustion engine control system.
The system does not have a separate electronic unit; instead, it uses an ECU (electronic engine control unit), which contains the appropriate software.
Actuating devices include:
- Starter.
- injection systems.
- ignition systems.
How does the start-stop system work?
How the Start&Stop system works built in such a way that if the car comes to a complete stop at a traffic light or in a traffic jam, the “smart” system, guided by certain algorithms and data received from the crankshaft rotation speed sensor, stops the engine. At this time, the power supply to electrical consumers (radio, air conditioning, etc...) is switched to the battery. When the clutch pedal is depressed (or the brake pedal is released in the case of an automatic transmission), the system automatically activates the starter, which instantly starts the engine. The number of cycles is not limited and can be repeated indefinitely.
If , the corresponding sensor will notify the system, which will shut down the system. The start-stop system will be switched back on after the battery charging sensor reports that there is enough power in the battery for full operation of the system. Besides. The driver can forcefully disable this system manually; for this purpose, the manufacturer provides a special button located on the instrument panel.
Kia Motors has its own Start-Stop system with a similar design, it is called - ISG (Idle Stop&Go). The main difference of this system is the ability to control a car generator in a special way. The ISG system is capable of turning off the generator during peak engine loads, this is done in order to relieve the load and thereby save fuel consumption. Conversely, when the driver presses the brake pedal and the engine does not need power, the ISG turns on the generator and recharges the battery. If the battery charge drops below 75%, the system shuts down.
Another equally successful system, STARS (Starter Alternator Reversible System) from Valeo, uses a reversible generator to save fuel. Cars from companies such as Mercedes and Citroen are equipped with this system, thanks to which car owners can achieve more than 10% fuel savings.
What is a reversible generator? Roughly speaking, this is an alternating current electric machine capable of alternating (changing) its work, performing, depending on the need, either the function of a generator or the function of a starter. The operation of this starter-generator is designed in such a way that, using a special drive belt and a reversible tensioner, it can transmit force in two different directions. The reversible generator operates quietly and has a much shorter starting time - 0.4 seconds, for comparison with a simple starter this time is 0.8 seconds.
Unlike the "Bosch" control system STARS is carried out by a separate computer that interacts with the electronic control unit of the internal combustion engine. Everything else - input sensors and other parts are almost identical to the system Start-stop from Bosch.
A new word among this kind of systems can be considered a relatively young system that uses regenerative braking, thereby forming an additional source of energy that allows reducing fuel consumption. The battery is charged while the car is braking.
SISS (Smart Idle Stop System)- a personal development of Mazda, which successfully competes with other start-stop systems. Here, the engine is started by injecting fuel into the cylinders and then igniting it. This installation is used mainly for gasoline units, which implement the function of direct fuel injection.
In order to ensure optimal operation of the SISS system, the pistons in the engine cylinders stop in a certain position, which is most optimal for the subsequent start of the engine. When starting, a certain amount of fuel is supplied to the cylinders, then it ignites and the engine starts again. To help the engine start, the starter is turned on for a short time. This technology allows you to save about 9% of fuel; the disadvantage is that the system works exclusively with automatic transmissions.
Also read:
» What is the Start-Stop system?
Start-stop system in a car
Special calculations were carried out with research, in which it was found that the engine of any car, at idle speed, for example, when stopping in city traffic jams and in front of traffic lights, consumes about 30% of the total fuel consumption. One third of a completely filled gas tank uselessly flies into the exhaust pipe, besides significantly polluting the environment.
Once the problem has been identified, it must be solved, and in the age of electronics, this is quite achievable. To reduce waste, a start-stop control system was invented that controls engine operation when the car is stationary.
Initially, the start-stop system was intended and installed only on hybrid vehicles with electric and gasoline engines. Nowadays, an increasing number of ordinary cars are beginning to be equipped with it.
The developers believe that in just a few years the start-stop system will be introduced on most newly produced cars, and in about ten years it will be installed on almost all, even old cars.
Operation of the start-stop system
The control principle is very simple. If the car stops, the engine is immediately turned off and the stop system is activated. On cars with a manual transmission, when you apply light pressure on the clutch pedal, and with an automatic transmission, when you release the brake pedal, it starts again, the start system is activated. This allows the car to stand quietly for any length of time during forced stops without consuming fuel.
The use of such a design when driving in a large city has shown very significant fuel savings, and when calculated on a mass scale, it is even difficult to imagine its advantages. No existing savings system, even approximately, can compare with it.
The start-stop system consists of two main components:
- electronic tracking unit;
- significantly improved launch system.
The start-stop control unit is quite serious; it integrates and takes into account the operation of many engine systems. For example, if the engine has not yet warmed up in winter conditions or there are other significant problems, the driver forgot to fasten his seat belt - the device will not work. Thus, the “smart” manager will not shut down the engine if this is harmful in a given situation.
History of creation and use of the start-stop system today
This start-stop system device was born in Japan, and was first tested on some Toyota cars in the 80s of the twentieth century. Ten years later it was installed on Fiats and Volkswagens. Since the beginning of the new century, they continue to improve and install on an increasing number of cars, such as BMW, Audi, Renault, Citroen, Peugeot and many other famous brands.
Adding recuperation for start-stop
With the next refinement of the start-stop system, they decided to remove the load from the power unit as much as possible, thus reducing energy consumption. The generator turns off and turns on when the car slows down or the battery capacity drops below 75%.
The use of a start-stop system made it possible to reduce fuel consumption for middle-class cars to almost 3-5 liters. per 100 kilometers.
However, a “smart” and advanced “start-stop” system in all conditions cannot take into account all the circumstances of the car’s condition and driving in extremely difficult city conditions. If unforeseen situations arise, the driver has the ability to instantly turn it off by simply pressing a button.
Noted disadvantages of the start-stop system
Serious innovations always come at a significant price, and only in this regard are two design flaws of the start-stop system considered.
- The first is the presence of an expensive, specially designed starter capable of very frequent and immediate engine starting. If it breaks, repair and especially replacement are very expensive.
- The second is similar; such cars require a battery with a much larger capacity than in conventional cars. It works in very complex modes of constant discharging and charging. The cost of replacing the battery also adds up to a significant amount.
If we take into account the price of gasoline and the constant increase in its cost, then the money saved in this way covers many times the above costs in the event of a complete replacement of the starter or battery.
Currently, quite strict requirements are imposed on all automakers as part of a worldwide project to maintain environmental protection. In this regard, engineers are simply forced to prevent some new developments from demonstrating their full potential, practically, consciously reducing the technical capabilities of some power units and other components of the car, although, at times, this causes financial damage to automobile companies.
In addition, a company has been launched to develop special additional devices and systems designed to reduce fuel consumption in cars and make the emission of harmful waste products into the atmosphere as low as possible. It is worth agreeing that the task is not an easy one, and even against the general background of the highest competition “reigning” in the global automobile market.
One of the mentioned auxiliary systems was called start-stop, literally due to the algorithm of its functioning. The purpose of this option is to automatically turn off the vehicle’s power unit when it comes to a complete stop, followed by automatic activation based on a specific signal programmed into the ECU.
For example, if a car moves with frequent stops in a metropolis with its constant traffic jams. It is at such moments that the start-stop system comes into action. The system turns off the engine of a stopped car, and after the driver presses the accelerator pedal, which will serve as a signal to resume movement, it starts again. This signal may be associated with another module, depending on the design and model of the vehicle.
Naturally, an increase in the number of starts of the power plant not only reduces the working life of the internal combustion engine, but also requires the car to have a powerful battery and a reliable starter. Although, there are start-stop systems that start the engine from a generator. The system is electronic, fully automated, and is based on the operation of numerous sensors installed in all “strategic” components and assemblies of the vehicle. They send impulses to the ECU, which manages the entire program.
Today, there are ambivalent opinions about the advisability of using this “start-stop” system. On the one hand, it allows you to save fuel, on the other hand, it exposes the internal combustion engine to unnecessary wear and tear. Many automobile companies install start-stop in cars during their production process, but if the system is not included in the package, it can always be installed from third-party manufacturers, but the question is, is this necessary?
According to experts, the predicted savings do not exceed 10%, this is at best. Comparing the cost of gasoline with the cost of purchasing and installing this option, you come to the following conclusion: installation of a start-stop system it justifies itself if the car is almost constantly used in traffic conditions in a large, heavily trafficked city. Otherwise, there is simply no need for this system, and any driver can turn off the engine at the right time independently. Although, maybe someone has a different opinion...
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Fragments of the post text: ...How the system works start stop An analysis of the operating mode of cars suggests that up to 30 percent of the time the car engine in urban conditions idles, that is, the car stands and does not move... ...The system is called function start stop Start stop... ...At first the system was developed for hybrid cars, but today leading automakers are already producing regular cars equipped with the function start stop ... ...It is predicted that by 2015 the function start stop Half of the cars produced will already be equipped... ...The idea behind the development of the system start stop lies in the fact that when the car stops, the engine turns off on its own, and if the brake pedal is released or the clutch pedal is pressed, the engine will immediately start on its own... ...Function start stop will turn on only when battery will be charged... ...Therefore, there is no need to fear that battery will be completely discharged... ...In vehicles equipped with the function start stop The role of the battery is increasing... ...For vehicles equipped with the function start stop special batteries have been developed that are capable of operating in the mode of frequent discharge of high currents... More details:
New technologies in the automotive industry are usually presented very brightly, but the “Start/Stop” system for gasoline and diesel engines appeared quietly, but quickly and everywhere - from small cars to sports cars, on cars with manual and automatic transmissions, with gasoline and diesel engines. True, very often the driver has only one desire - to quickly turn off this thing, which creates many uncomfortable situations. So after all: is short-term engine shutdown really that useful?
A little history
The first serial application of fuel saving technology was recorded in 1983 on the FIAT Regatta ES model. Moreover, its implementation was crowned with success: the engine was equipped with an automatic carburetor, an engine with a higher compression ratio, microprocessor ignition, and also improved aerodynamics. Comprehensive measures, according to the manufacturer, made it possible to achieve 5% fuel savings, but sales did not take off - the Regatta ES sold only 5 thousand copies.
In the same 1983, a similar option appeared on VW Passat Formula E cars - especially economical versions with a number of modifications. It was on this model that the first prototype of the “Start/Stop” system was used, with only a manual drive, which made it possible to turn off and start the engine by pressing a button, and not automatically.
FIAT Regatta ES
Ten years later, in 1993, all the achievements of science and technology were applied to the diesel VW Golf Ecomatic. The company planned to achieve an average consumption of 5.5 liters and coped with the task: the Golf Ecomatic was positioned as the most economical production car in the world. Fuel consumption on the highway dropped to 3.5 liters per 100 km, which brought the model as close as possible to the then super-popular eco-idea of a “three-liter” car.
Technically, it was a completely ordinary Golf III with the weakest version of a naturally-aspirated diesel engine with a volume of 1.9 liters (64 hp) with an automatic clutch drive (there are no pedals in the car), a manual gearbox, a Start/Stop system, and an additional electric pump in cooling system, electric brake booster vacuum pump and electric power steering pump.
VW Golf Ecomatic
The car’s engine could run on biodiesel (fuel made from rapeseed oil), and prompt indicator lights were installed on the dashboard for correct gear shifting. Special tires with reduced rolling resistance were also used. A Bosch battery with a capacity of 92 Ah powered the entire system, and to prevent voltage surges in the on-board network, it was paired with another 7 Ah battery.
VW Golf Ecomatic
The use of a semi-automatic transmission made it possible to apply the entire set of fuel saving techniques at once: when stopping for more than 5 seconds, the engine was turned off, as well as when releasing the gas and coasting.
The engine started when the gear was engaged at the start (the sensor was built into the manual transmission lever) or when the gas pedal was pressed. The manufacturer promised a reduction in CO emissions by 36%, CO 2 by 22%, and NO by 25%.
The cost of this version of the Volkswagen Golf was significantly more expensive than the usual one (in Britain the additional payment was 1,500 pounds sterling, while the cost of the regular version was 11,495).
It was possible to sell only 4 thousand of these machines, since in real operation the declared efficiency could not be achieved. In terms of comfort and reliability, the Ecomatic was significantly behind cars without sophisticated electronics. The sophisticated CDJ series gearbox and electronics complex turned out to be capricious. And soon the advent of diesel engines with pump injectors made it possible to reduce fuel consumption at low loads, and similar fuel efficiency indicators became available to cars without any additional systems.
What now
Modern Start/Stop systems are designed very similarly. Unless the electric booster solves the problem of the power steering drive, and the brakes have lost their vacuum booster - the hydraulic accumulator and electric pump work for it. The electric pump still works in the cooling system.
But semi-automatic systems are not held in high esteem today, and therefore they have been replaced by automatic transmissions with additional hydraulic accumulators and electric pumps in the drive. Preselective gearboxes that do not require a constantly running oil pump are also capable of operating in the “Start/Stop” mode. A number of cars are also equipped with an electric air conditioning system for maximum comfort. Almost all have a reinforced starter or starter-generator, as well as reinforced batteries with AGM technology that can withstand an order of magnitude greater number of charge-discharge cycles, and additional on-board power supply controllers that prevent voltage surges. Bosch has been offering manufacturers a ready-made set of components for Start/Stop systems since 2007, including all the modules and technologies listed above, except for the electrically driven air conditioning system.
How does it work
The operation scheme of the Start/Stop system has not changed: it turns off the engine when stopping for more than a couple of seconds and on a number of cars is used instead of engine braking. The declared fuel economy is within 5% - it is almost impossible to achieve better results, since the operation of the system is greatly influenced by the large energy consumption of a modern car, which is limited by the battery capacity.
A number of independent tests show that the reduction in fuel consumption is usually less than stated, and for most systems the pause at start reaches values of 1-2 seconds, which is very negatively felt by the driver. The minimum delay time is for cars with a starter-generator system, offered, for example, by Valeo or Delphy, the maximum is for cars with a “classic” reinforced starter.
If there is a Start/Stop system, it is possible to use only batteries created usingAGM.
In practice, the technology is not at all as cheap as one would like to think. A stronger starter alone is not enough, and even a longer-lasting battery is just the tip of the iceberg. Serious changes are needed in the machine’s power supply system to reduce voltage ripple and ensure stable operation of the electronics.
Bosch solutions offer a dedicated DC-DC converter as a mandatory system component. The French concern PSA uses supercapacitors to smooth out voltage surges and use them when working with a starter generator. Additional batteries can also be used to smooth out voltage surges at critical consumers. An electric pump in the engine cooling system is necessary both to ensure high-quality operation of the climate system and to prevent temperature surges in the engine cooling system and prevent overheating of turbines and gearboxes. Electric boosters with a Start/Stop system must operate over a wide range of voltages and loads.
And what is the dignity?
Why such sacrifices? Is it really all for the sake of 5% savings, which do not always manifest themselves even in the standard driving cycle?
Not so simple. The system is needed not only to save fuel. More precisely, it works in conjunction with other technical solutions, helping to apply them more effectively or reducing negative effects.
Gasoline engines, for example, are demonstrably ineffective at low load - only downsize and turbocharging can change something in this situation. To reduce fuel consumption at idle speed and increase exhaust purity, an increase in the operating temperature of the engine is used, but this method significantly harms the service life of the engine and all attachments.
Using the “Start/Stop” system allows you to avoid both idling in principle and low-load operation, when the catalysts work ineffectively. The engine either does not work, or is overloaded by the generator charging the battery, and the catalysts do not go beyond the optimal temperature range.
At the same time, a problematic mode for the engine lubrication system has been removed, which means that you can further reduce the margin of operating oil pressure, achieving small but savings. Considering that gasoline engines start easily and warm up quickly, the introduction of the Start/Stop system for them seems logical and with the widest possible coverage.
Diesel engines They do not suffer from overheating at idle and are very efficient at low loads. But nevertheless, it is advisable to exclude idle speed for them too. The reason is increasingly stringent NO emission standards. It is at low loads that the concentration of emissions is highest, despite the fact that the catalyst is not able to “burn out” the oxides without the supply of additional fuel. No idle speed - no problem. Moreover, the larger the displacement of the engine, the more efficient the technology. It is when idling that the EGR becomes most contaminated and the most urea is consumed during chemical neutralization of exhaust gases.
Eliminating idle speed also allows, in some cases, to speed up the warm-up of a diesel engine in the idle cycle. After all, unlike a gasoline engine, a diesel engine is cooled very quickly by the air flow at idle. Another problem is related to particulate filters: at low speeds, a diesel engine generates an increased amount of particulate matter in the exhaust due to poor ventilation of the combustion chamber, despite a high excess air ratio. And all the “accumulated” soot particles after idling must be “burned” in the filter, which also uses fuel, otherwise the filter will simply become clogged. So the Start/Stop system turned out to be useful for a diesel engine.
