PREMIUM European cars in the last 10 years or so have become very complicated with better safety features, smartphone-like connectivity and fuel saving features. This is why we thought it would be best to share this fuel saving feature with you. It's called start-stop ignition.
To save fuel
Most of you already know what start-stop ignition is and how it helps to save fuel. However, there are many others who have no idea what its value is and they just switch it off whenever they drive their premium car simply because the switching off and on of the car’s engine can be irritating and so the driver can decide to turn the start-stop system off with a dash button that has an 'A' on it. In some cars, it is right next to the ignition and for some others, it is on the centre console next to the gear-shifter.
History
First shown in 1970 and popularised from 1995, this is how European car manufacturers met the requirements of early European Union emission standards to reduce emissions and save fuel. With this technology, CO2 emissions can be reduced by 3 to 8% which is a lot when you consider the high number of vehicles on the road during peak hours.
So, when these cars were introduced in Malaysia, the start-stop ignition feature comes built-in and early models irritated most Malaysian owners as during heavy peak hour traffic when they crawled along, the engine would shut down and restarted dozens of times. And whenever the engine shut down the air-conditioner compressor would also turn off and only the blower was working. In Europe, this is acceptable, but not in Asia. So, a solution was needed.
Working out the problem
Cars with start-stop technology require a much higher output from the car’s battery so you will require a battery with modern technology, because normal starter batteries are not designed to meet the higher demands of these vehicles. Not only is the car battery required to use extra energy to stop and start much more often, it also needs to continue to feed all the other elements of the car like the air conditioning, lighting, radio while waiting for the restart.
All these functions require battery power, so with a start-stop system it is no surprise that a powerful car battery is required and it does not come at a low price. However, it assists to keep the air-conditioner working to keep the cabin cool.
Will it wear out my starter?
The answer is 'No' for those of you who have been informed by your mechanics. The cars that come with start-stop technology do not use a conventional starter motor. Instead, they combine a number of technologies so not to put a strain on your starter motor.
Some cars that have implemented start-stop technology do not even use a starter motor, eliminating concerns of starter motor wear and tear. However, they have other new components that increase costs in the long run of ownership.
So, all you need to understand is the need to save fuel (when fuel is priced low in Malaysia) against the comfort of knowing your engine is not switching on and off a dozen times in peak hour traffic. – The Vibes, November 23, 2020
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