Gas-saving stop-start systems, which turn off the engine when the vehicle isn’t moving and restart it when the brake pedal is released, will be standard on more cars and trucks than ever before — whether drivers like it or not.
Automotive industry analysts say the technology improves fuel economy an average of 3.5 percent — and as much as 10-15 percent in cities and heavy stop-and-go traffic.
Detractors say the feature is annoying and makes them think their cars have stalled when the engine shuts off at a light or stop sign. Southfield-based forecasting firm IHS Automotive says 7 percent of vehicles sold today in the U.S. have stop-start, compared to 60-70 percent in Europe.
John Fisher, a 24-year-old from Plymouth, was confused and surprised the first time he experienced the stop-start feature on his 2014 Chevy Malibu. “I thought something was wrong,” he said. “I thought maybe it stalled, but then the engine came back on.”
But strict federal fuel economy mandates have forced automakers to add stop-start to more vehicles, says Devin Lindsay, senior analyst of North American powertrain forecasting for IHS. He predicts 57 percent of vehicles sold here in 2020 will have the gas-saving technology.
Detroit’s Big Three automakers already are increasing use of the technology in their car and truck lineups.
- Stop-start is available as a $295 option on the 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine of Ford’s 2014 Fusion, and the automaker expects to offer it in 40 percent of its lineup — including the 2015 F-150 pickup — by 2017. And because it will be offered on popular models, it could account for 70 percent of total sales. “About 10 years from now, there won’t be a (new) vehicle that doesn’t have stop-start,” said Paul Seredynski, Ford’s manager of global powertrain technology communications.
- Chrysler Group LLC uses stop-start in its Chrysler 200 and the 2015 Jeep Cherokee SUV, and the automaker says it improves fuel economy up to 3 percent. Chrysler debuted the feature in its Ram 1500 pickup. “It’s a great technology, very smooth implementation,” Jim Morrison, Jeep marketing director, said in an interview. He said stop-start added a mile per gallon to the Cherokee’s total, which is 29 miles per gallon highway on its V-6 engine.
- General Motors Co. offers stop-start technology in its Chevrolet Malibu and Impala. Chad Lyons, Chevrolet communications manager, said 95 percent of Malibus sold have stop-start.
How it works
- Stop-start technology saves gas by shutting off the engine when the car is stopped. Here’s how it works:
- When the car comes to a stop, fuel flow is cut off and the engine cuts off.
- The rest of the car’s systems — radio, lights, air conditioning, etc. — remain on.
- When the driver lifts a foot from the brake pedal, the engine automatically restarts within a fraction of a second — before the foot even reaches the gas pedal.
