Fuel-saving "stop-start" technology become the norm

It is hybrid drivers familiar: come to a traffic light and brake, and keep in mind the car becomes quieter. What is less obvious, is the fuel efficiency reach the driver of the gasoline pump.

Originally developed automatic switching off of the vehicle engine for use in hybrid vehicles, this stop-start technology – instead of wasting gas idling at traffic lights or in a fast food line - will be quickly rolled out on everything from mini cars high performance luxury vehicles. And according to a new survey, it is likely in the next ten years the norm has become.

"The challenge for automakers, to obtain the greatest efficiencies of the smallest cost increment", said David Alexander, senior analyst at Navigant research.

The consultancy predicts that the number of vehicles with start-stop technology from 8.8 worldwide 2022 will increase to 1 million. On the basis of industry estimates, which would explain more than half of all vehicles produced in this year.

Indeed, it might not even take that long to this milestone reached on the recent announcements in the industry. Ford plans, for example, of technologies on 70 percent offer its U.S. model range, up to the year 2017, anticipating annual sales this year by about 1 million.

"Words, auto start-stop helps customers to use less fuel, that an important part of Ford's is simple blueprint for sustainability," said Bob Fascetti, Ford's global Powertrain Vice President.

Different manufacturers use different names for the technology, including micro hybrid and idle-stop. But industry experts are agreed that what ever it is called, the system critical fuel 2016, and then jump standards of 35.5 mpg are for manufacturers, the hope, the tough new U.S. year mpg by 2025 could meet at 54.5.

The exact payment technology is a matter of debate. Manufacturers quote numbers anywhere between 2% and 5% savings. Motorists will likely see a big difference, depending on how and where you drive, how start stop the most effective is, driven a vehicle in urban environments where should increasingly idle went over be.

"The entire automotive industry moving to stop / start to improve fuel economy," said Dave Sargent, Vice President of J.D. power and Associates company automotive research group, although he note "There is a certain risk," with the technology.

Added to a vehicle cost, for one thing, especially the more sophisticated versions that most for a motorist should be transparent. Manufacturers have to fight, ways found to reduce costs, but can create problems. BMW, for example, has was incorrect for start stop system on several models, such as the 3-series, due to its roughness and the starter-like cry, when the motor is raised again.

General Motors is a third-party, which is expected to rapidly expand the use of technology, the introduction to the updated 2014 his Chevrolet Malibu. The technology is a simpler and cheaper version of what already on several GM Hybrids, Chief Engineer on the Malibu program is available, although "There is no sacrifice in drivability", claimed Todd Pawlik.

American motorists are only beginning to see start-stop technology roll-out and on many models like the Porsche Panamera, she takes a switch to shut it down. But as rise and speedometer standards increasing the fuel costs, experts expect that it becoming nearly as commonplace the fuel in Europe runs high now so like $9 a gallon and stop-start already on 45 percent of the latest models is found.

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Car ad Nissan unfazed by EV delays, dismisses rivals fuel cell targets

TOKYO, Nov 20 Reuters) - Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Renault SA and Nissan Motor Co., said he was unimpressed by delays in its sales targets electric, forecast that competitors in their plans to launch fuel car sales in the next few years would even greater obstacles.

Ghosn again on Wednesday that Renault and Nissan would push back an intitial aim to sell a combined 1.5 million electric by end of March 2017 to two to three years.

While Nissan EV target moved back, it also said that it US production cut the all-electric leaf, which world's best-selling electric vehicle would lift, after a price increased sales in this market.

"I regret my investment in electric cars? No, of course, "Carlos Ghosn told reporters at the Tokyo Motor Show."

Nissan and Renault combined have sold only 120,000 electric vehicles, because she was only on the market three years ago.

But he said the difficulties with infrastructure that limp popularity as technical problems, blaming recharge Ghosn electric vehicles such as the main reason forecasts an even more daunting challenge for fuel cell vehicles.

Toyota Motor Corp and Honda Motor Co plan 2015 to begin selling fuel-cell vehicles.

"Frankly, I do not know how they want to do it, because all the problems to know we, a loading system with power, where the hydrogen infrastructure is?" Carlos Ghosn said.

"That is why we are moved in a certain way, some of our ambitions in relation to fuel."

Fuel cell cars to chemically convert hydrogen into electricity to the vehicle spend just makes water vapour as waste product. In contrast to electric vehicles and charging stations can be charged from home, fuel cell cars must stop at refilling stations.

FUEL CELL RACE HOTS UP

Battery-powered electric cars, but also have a relatively limited area - the blade goes more than 230 km (143 miles) on a single charge - and can recharge hours. Fuel cell cars can fill up within minutes and travel more than double this distance, roughly on par with conventional gasoline-powered cars.

But the high cost of hydrogen stations, at $6 million per piece, presents a big hurdle for fuel cell vehicles.

Toyota unveiled a fuel cell concept sedan at the Tokyo Motor Show on Wednesday with two hydrogen tanks and a range of 500 km.

The car for 5 million, will sell 10 million yen ($50,000 100,000), when it goes on sale in 2015, said Satoshi Ogiso, a Toyota managing officer, was involved in the development of the Prius hybrid.

Honda shows a fuel cell concept car at the Los Angeles Auto Show this week.

Nissan is not the fuel cell technology--it is planning to bring one in 2017 on the market. But it lags Toyota and Honda for two years.

Major automakers around the world are billions of dollars, to develop fuel cell technology, and to limit the load on some alliances have formed.

Toyota and BMW AG are planning, roll-out of a jointly developed fuel cell vehicle system up to the year 2020. Honda and General Motors co develop together to launch a hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in the next seven years, while Daimler, Ford and Nissan plan to develop and affordable fuel cell vehicles within five years.

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GM recalls 1,658 Sonic small car for fuel tank problem

DETROIT, Oct 7 Reuters)-General Motors co is 1.658 Chevrolet Sonic recalled cars, since potentially faulty strap the tank separate welds from the car could cause.

The recall of 2013 and 2014 model year cars concerned - 1,558 cars in the United States and 100 in Canada, are the many, GM said most of them still on dealers. The number 1 of the U.S. automakers said that it knows no accidents, fires or injuries related to the issue.

If the strap holder separately, the fuel tank on the exhaust pipe or the plastic would tank shield, potentially leading to a rattling or scraping noise of GM said to rest. If the plate and fuel filler neck did not support the tank, he could separate from the car GM said.

If the fuel tank was punctured, and it was a source of ignition, a fire could occur, said GM, which discovered the theme on their Orion, Michigan assembly plant.

The inspection of the mounting straps and any necessary repairs will be free, said GM.

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is not on his site reminds automaker due to contribution presented to the closure of the Government.

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Fuel hits all-time record: 23.8 mpg

Paul A. Eisenstein, the Detroit Bureau
American motorists are more and more from their new cars as the average fuel consumption of new cars and trucks sold rose by 6 percent and set an all-time high in the year 2012 as consumers of higher gas prices and the increasing availability of attractive products of high-mileage, said according to a study.

University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute-eco-driving-index indicating the average fuel consumption of new vehicles in 2012 on a record 23.8 mpg, 1.3 mpg from 2011 and 2.9 mpg from 2008 bought.

But whether this trend will continue, especially with the economy recovering and fuel prices fall - at least for the moment – remains to be seen. Study that found University of the fuel consumption of vehicles in December bought 23.9 mpg below 0.2 mpg from November, probably due to the last reduction in the price of gasoline.

General Motors is the first U.S. automaker in its home market in a year to sell more than 1 million vehicles, which get mpg or better on the highway of cycle 30 an EPA-estimated.

Industry observers note that a variety of factors were restructuring of the U.S. auto market. While consumers to smaller vehicles have started is the greater tendency to smaller and more economical drives, change including turbocharged and hybrid alternatives.

"Our investment in advanced powertrains clearly pay off and be our smaller vehicles with customers, resonance", said Mark Reuss, President of GM North America. "In the year 2013, we introduce new diesel eAssist and plug ins to expand the availability of the turbocharged four-cylinder engines and vehicles in the United States." This will give the technologically diverse economical cars and crossovers in the industry us."

Thirteen GM vehicles at least a comprehensive model that achieved with at least 30 mpg highway, and the manufacturers have known, it was the first to sell more than 30 mpg at least 1 million vehicles in a single year of 2012.

Small cars were selling Ford 29% in 2012, with 316.006 vehicles sold. Focus sales gained 40% in the course of the year, and the new C-MAX next its strong selling rate. Were in the first four months of sales 13.309 C-MAX vehicles sold and thus fastest selling beginning each hybrid vehicle in the industry.

The shift, however, is about the steady growth of the smaller vehicles, which is driven by pricing. Automakers have withdrawn many of their older, full-size vehicles and replaced them with newer models that are significantly more fuel efficient. The completely newly designed Toyota Avalon 2013 gets 31 miles per gallon on the highway.

Even Chrysler, which remains, his RAM pick-up truck that is most fuel efficient full-size pickup on the market adds today getting 25 mpg, often behind their rivals in the fuel economy has improved during total fuel economy of all pick-up trucks in the last years.

The pickup segment provides a good example as the U.S. market shifted. All three are the Detroit makers with new mileage reduced emphasis on drive trains. Ford, in particular has seen from half of the F-series buyers shift to the V-6 offers in the last year, including the V-6 EcoBoost, nor the towing and payload capacity of the Ford truck classic V 8s can match.

Nevertheless Americans were expected a record sum on petrol in the year 2012, after spending $490 billion in 2011 - which is approximately 100 billion $ to spend in 2010 more than figure. Last year count is expected to be in about 500 billion $ come.

While nationwide fuel prices approached to record levels in the spring – and indeed the all-time high in California this year due to supply problems exceeded - gasoline prices have fallen heavily in recent weeks.

They are currently $3.30 per gallon average according to the energy information agency, down from $3.45 a month ago. Now, gas prices are the same as they were a year ago.

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