VW'S STOP/START 21ST-CENTURY CAR

The VW 2000 project is described, a research effort partly funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research and Technology. The project is designed to use advanced concepts for saving fuel in passenger cars. The present experimental car has a fuel-saving drivetrain with an automatic stop/start capability. Two clutches are electronically controlled; a conventional type and a disc type between the crankshaft and flywheel. The second clutch disconnects the flywheel whenever the car is stopped or coasting and the computer simultaneously shuts off the ignition and fuel flow. The engine restarts itself from the flywheel. The car has lower emissions; it is much lighter and has lower aerodynamic drag than a VW Rabbit of the same size. Various powertrains of different performance levels are being evaluated (four-cylinder turbocharged gasoline and methanol engines, and diesel engines, including a three-cylinder direct-injection supercharged version). Many of the safety features of VW experimental safety vehicles are incorporated, including a fork-frame reinforcement of the body shell, a soft nose, and passive seat belts. Although further research will constantly refine the present VW 2000, major elements of the car can be expected in future Volkswagen production cars from now through 1990. A separate note describes the U.S. urban fuel economy project which involves the development of flywheels, continuously variable transmissions, and stop-start technology. In a reverse approach to the VW project, the American effort uses the flywheel for motive power and the engine to reactuate the flywheel. The project is being conducted at the University of Wisconsin, in association with Lawrence Livermore Laboratory and is funded by the Department of Energy.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/01617370
• Corporate Authors:

  Times Mirror Magazines, Incorporated

  380 Madison Avenue
  New York, NY  United States  10017
• Authors:
  • NORBYE, J P
• Publication Date: 1980-7

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 76-79
• Serial:
  • Popular Science
  • Volume: 217
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: Times Mirror Magazines, Incorporated
  • ISSN: 0161-7370

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air quality management; Automobiles; Electronic equipment; Exhaust gases; Flywheels; Fuel consumption; Power trains; Starting (Driving); Stopping; Vehicle drive systems
• Uncontrolled Terms: Experimental design
• Old TRIS Terms: Electronic devices; Exhaust emission control; Stop/start
• Subject Areas: Energy; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00386130
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-029 174
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Jun 28 1984 12:00AM