Valeo Turns Off Your Car

Valeo will be providing their stop-start system to PSA Peugeot Citroen. The second generation start-stop system, called i-StARS, will be integrated into the Peugeot and Citroen models with HDi diesel engines. Valeo says that by 2013, a million vehicles will have the system in place.

That's good news. A start-stop system can increase fuel efficiency by up to 15% in congested urban areas according to their estimates. The system turns off the engine when the car comes to a stop, say at red lights or in congestion.

An average decrease of 5g/km in CO2 emissions can be expected.

The Start-Stop system cuts power to the engine as the car slows down, at 8 km/h in an automatic and at 20 km/h in a manual.  Re-start takes 500 msec, is noiseless and with no vibrations.