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French Automaker Citroen Develops Stop and Start Idle-Eliminating Engine Technology

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Khatir Soltani

Stop and Start System Applies HEV Technology to Conventional Gasoline Engines

News about auto manufacturers and drivers alike being hounded by government regulations to reduce air pollution is nothing

Stopping and starting an engine thirty times in a row consumes less fuel than letting the motor idle for the equivalent period of time. (Photo: Citroen)
new. Regulators have implemented emissions standards for new vehicles, and smog testing for older vehicles in an attempt to clean up the environment. Many car companies have taken a positive outlook, trying to improve their current products. Cars now produce extremely low carbon dioxide emissions, cleaner LEV, ULEV and LZEV-rated vehicles, and triple-figure mile per gallon fuel consumption capabilities, but much of this goes out the window when it comes down to the daily gridlock commute.

It is a well known fact that stopping and starting an engine thirty times in a row consumes less fuel than letting the motor idle

French engineers at PSA Peugeot-Citroen decided that they'd do something about all the fuel that's wasted while idling. (Photo: Citroen)
for the equivalent period of time. This was established several years ago on a trial test by Mercedes-Benz in its own quest to reduce emissions.

Now, with direct injection and variable displacement motors featuring active-cylinder shutoff to reduce fuel consumption at low loads, emissions have improved further, however these systems don't often deliver the reported fuel economy benefits due to traffic-clogged roadways. The amount of fuel consumed when waiting at red lights or while stuck in bumper to bumper rush hour is mind boggling, so much so that the French engineers at PSA Peugeot-Citroen decided that they'd do something about it.

Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
  • Over 6 years experience as a car reviewer
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  • Involved in discussions with virtually every auto manufacturer in Canada