STOP START CAR BATTERIES

This increasingly common technology in cars combines an internal combustion engine with system controls that shut down the engine whenever the vehicle slows, is idling or at traffic lights. The engine starts up instantly and resumes normal operation as soon as the driver takes his or her foot off the brake pedal. Stop-start vehicles (SSV) typically offer 5 to 10 per cent reductions in both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions - an important factor for manufacturers when trying to meet mandated global carbon emission reduction goals.

Given the greatly increased use of an SSV's starter motor, these types of vehicles require more robust batteries and starter systems when compared to more traditional internal combustion systems. Even so, SSVs are considerably less costly to manufacture than hybrid electric vehicles.

One alternative starter motor design in use employs a continuous belt which silently drives the start function directly to the internal combustion engine's crankshaft - as opposed to a traditional gear-driven coupling with the flywheel. Another impressive alternative employs the direct injection system to allow compression starting (once the engine has warmed up), eliminating the repeated use of the starter motor. There are many manufacturers who already have SSV equipped vehicles in their range including Audi, BMW, Mazda, Mercedes, Subaru, Volvo and Volkswagen.