Quantifying the Effects of Idle-Stop Systems on Fuel Economy in Light-Duty Passenger Vehicles

Vehicles equipped with idle-stop (IS) systems are capable of engine shutdown when the vehicle is stopped and rapid engine restart for the vehicle launch. This capability reduces fuel consumption and emissions during periods when the engine is not being utilized to provide propulsion or to power accessories. IS systems are a low cost, fast growing technology in the industry wide pursuit of increased vehicle efficiency, possibly becoming standard features in European vehicles in the near future. In contrast, currently there are only three non-hybrid vehicle models for sale in North America with IS systems and these models are distinctly low volume models. As part of the United States Department of Energy’s Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity, ECOtality North America has tested the real world effect of IS systems on fuel consumption in three vehicle models imported from Europe. These vehicles were chosen to represent three types of systems: (1) spark ignition with 12-V belt alternator starter; (2) compression ignition with 12-V belt alternator starter; and (3) direct injection spark ignition, with 12-V belt alternator starter/combustion restart. The vehicles have undergone both dynamometer and on-road testing; the test results show somewhat conflicting data. The laboratory data and the portion of the on-road data in which driving is conducted on a prescribed route with trained drivers produced significant fuel economy improvement. However, the fleet data do not corroborate improvement, even though the data show significant engine-off time. It is possible that the effects of the varying driving styles and routes in the fleet testing overshadowed the fuel economy improvements. More testing with the same driver over routes that are similar with the IS system-enabled and disabled is recommended.

• Record URL:
  http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/avta/pdfs/mhv/idle-stop_light_duty_passenger_vehicles.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Idaho National Laboratory

  2525 Freemont Avenue
  Idaho Falls, ID  United States  83402-1509

  Department of Energy

  1000 Independence Avenue, SW
  Office of Nuclear Energy
  Washington, DC  United States  20585

  ECOtality, Incorporated

  1 Montgomery Street
  Suite 2525
  San Francisco, CA  United States  94104
• Authors:
  • Wishart, Jeffrey
  • Shirk, Matthew
• Publication Date: 2012-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 32p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Compression ignition engines; Dynamometers; Engine idling; Fuel consumption; Idle time; Passenger vehicles; Road tests; Spark ignition engines
• Subject Areas: Energy; Highways; Vehicles and Equipment; I96: Vehicle Operating Costs;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01491277
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: INL/EXT-12-27320
• Contract Numbers: DE-FC26-05NT42486; DE-AC07-05ID14517
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 3 2013 12:24PM