“We are pioneers of
Start/Stop, having introduced the technology in 2007, and have since seen it
bring efficient CO2-reductions to a large share of the European, US and Chinese
market. With the new extra-compact SC60 we are confident that the technology
will now also conquer developing markets like India and China, since it
perfectly serves the smaller cars which are prevalent there,” he said.
SEG Automotive has ongoing
projects that aim to also roll out the new product to other OEMs in India and
other markets like Brazil, China and Europe, further solidifying its role as
technology leader and one of the most significant global suppliers.
“Start/Stop is an important
technology to make cars more environmentally friendly, offering immediate fuel
efficiency increases of up to 8%. We were the first movers in India for introducing
Start/Stop technology in 2008, however, it was mostly fitted in larger cars.
The new SC60 Start/Stop starter motor is developed specifically with the Indian
market in mind for smaller combustion engines: it is amongst the smallest of
its kind in the world and able to fit in compact cars, yet it provides up to
1.2kW starting power. It was premiered in India recently by both Indian and
international OEMs, with the development and application engineering happening
in close cooperation between central R&D in Germany and the local team in
Bangalore. The SC60 is an efficient answer to reduce pollution by decreasing
fuel consumption and help OEMs reach the new, more stringent CAFC goals defined
by the Indian government,” stated Anil Kumar M R, Managing Director, SEG
Automotive India.
How does Start/Stop work?
The engine control unit (ECU)
automatically switches off the engine if the vehicle comes to a stop and the
driver puts the gear into neutral, for example at a traffic light. For cars
with automatic transmission just the pressed brake pedal and vehicle standstill
is required. As soon as the driver presses the clutch again or in case of
automatic transmission releases the brake, the engine is re-started
automatically.
Start/Stop works conveniently
in the background, and evaluates a wide array of sensor information before
being activated. For instance, a battery sensor determines the battery’s level
of charge; only if a quick restart is guaranteed, the engine will be switched
off when the vehicle is stopped.
Another example is the
vehicle’s air conditioning. If the cabin temperature is too cold or too hot,
the engine will continue to run to more quickly achieve the occupants’ desired
temperature. Finally, there is a DC/DC converter for stabilising the voltage of
the electrical system during starts to ensure that the radio, navigation
system, or hands-free telephone operate without any interference or
interruption.
Advanced Start/Stop
Engineers are continually
working to extend engine shutdown times in order to further reduce consumption,
and thus CO2 emissions. Advanced Start/Stop therefore also turns off the engine
when the vehicle is coasting to a stop and is already at low vehicle speed.
Depending on the style of driving and the traffic conditions, the advanced
Start/Stop system from SEG Automotive can save up to 10 percent of total fuel
consumption.
In parallel, SEG Automotive is
pursuing a range of additional projects to further decrease CO2 emissions of
passenger cars and commercial vehicles. With the Boost Recuperation Machine
(BRM), which facilitates 48-volt mild hybridization, SEG Automotive already
offers a technology for hybridizing gasoline and diesel engines in a
cost-effective manner. The BRM enables regenerative braking, storing energy
that is later converted into additional driving power, delivering extra torque
during acceleration and allows “coasting” at high speeds with the engine turned
off. Through the use of BRM fuel consumption and CO2 emissions can be further
reduced by about 15 percent. SEG Automotive also offers a broad range of high
efficiency generators for any power requirements, which keep the vehicle’s
electrical system stable and reduce CO2 emissions and fuel consumption.