Valeo Equips the Mercedes A and B Class With Its StARS Micro-Hybrid System

AUTO CENTRAL - July 16, 2008: Valeo announces today that its StARS micro-hybrid system equips the new Mercedes A and B Class.

Invented by Valeo, this system featuring the Stop-Start function, cuts off the engine when the vehicle is at a standstill, at traffic lights for instance, and then restarts it quickly and silently when the driver releases the brake pedal. It provides average of fuel savings of 9%.

"This technology meets end user needs for reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, at an affordable cost," says Valeo's Chairman & CEO, Thierry Morin.

Ever growing urban populations are making cities increasingly congested. The usefulness of the Stop-Start function becomes evident as it is estimated that, in cities, a car spends up to one-third of its time at a standstill with the engine idling unnecessarily. Under these conditions of congested city driving, fuel savings can reach 25%. Valeo expects the system to become widely available on all types of vehicles worldwide.

Valeo’s micro-hybrid system already equips the Citroën C2 and C3 and the smart mhd. Valeo has also won a contract from PSA Peugeot Citroën to equip more than a million vehicles with StARS by 2011.