Delphi's New Stop-Start System Could Increase Fuel Economy

     Studies show up to 15 percent improvement with larger system on SUVs

    FLINT, Mich., May 3 As fuel prices continue to escalate
domestically, and around the world, Delphi Automotive Systems
could help increase the urban fuel economy of smaller vehicles by more than
five percent with its new stop-start system.  The technology, dubbed
Energen 5, uses a combined starter/alternator in the conventional generator
position, allowing the engine to be automatically stopped when the vehicle
idles and restarted almost instantaneously when the accelerator is pressed.
Compared with conventional in-line stop-start solutions, Energen 5 is quieter,
weighs less, has fewer components and requires almost no additional packaging
volume.
    
    "Combining the alternator and starter in a single unit, driving the engine
through the accessory belt, gives us a very neat, compact and affordable
solution for smaller vehicles," says Dr. Jean Botti, director of the customer
solutions centre for Delphi Energy & Chassis Systems, in Europe.  "We already
have demonstrated a five percent fuel economy improvement and expect to be
able to increase this significantly with further development.  The elimination
of the starter motor and ring gear also reduces weight, packaging, complexity
and cost and allows a reduction in starting noise of at least 3 decibles."

    Energen 5 is suitable for gasoline engines up to 1.6 litres and diesels up
to 1.2 litres, with either 12-volt or 42-volt architectures and an electrical
requirement of up to 5kW.  The base system is air cooled, but it also is
available with liquid cooling of the stator and electronics.  This can provide
almost immediate heat to supplement cabin heating and will further reduce
emissions by accelerating the rate of engine/catalyst warm-up.

    Energen is a family of technologies for the generation, distribution and
management of electrical energy, which can be tightly integrated with
conventional internal combustion engines and powertrains.  Larger sizes
include an in-line starter-alternator, integrated with the powertrain between
the engine and the gearbox, to provide electrical generation, energy recovery,
torque damping and power assist for mild hybrid operation.

    Delphi has demonstrated fuel economy improvements of up to 15 percent on a
sport utility vehicle fitted with the Energen 10 in-line system.

    Energen 5 recently was demonstrated to customers and journalists at a ride
and drive event in the U.S.  Delphi expects Energen 5 to enter production for
the 2003 model year with at least one major European vehicle manufacturer.  A
number of other manufacturers in Europe and Asia are also evaluating the
technology.